Resveratrol,Wine, and Atherosclerosis

This review emphasizes the effects of resveratrol on factors involved in the mechanism of atherosclerosis and risk factors for atherosclerosis. The effects of wine and resveratrol on atherosclerosis are also discussed. Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory agent. It reduces the expression of cell adhesion molecules, monocyte colony stimulating factors, matrix metalloproteinases, and growth factors; and inhibits platelet aggregation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. It reduces the serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), and raises high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, inhibits expression of C-reactive protein and lowers the levels of advanced glycation end products and its receptor in the vascular tissue. It lowers the risk factors for plaque rupture. Epidemiological data show that moderate consumption of alcohol has an inverse association with carotid atherosclerosis while high consumption has a positive association with carotid atherosclerosis. Wine reduces the extent of atherosclerosis in animal model. The antiatherosclerotic effect of wine is mainly due to it resveratrol content. Resveratrol reduces the extent of atherosclerosis in animal model of atherosclerosis (apolipoprotein [Apo] E-deficient and Apo E^−/−/low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice and macrophage). In rabbit model of atherosclerosis, both reduction and acceleration of atherosclerosis have been reported with resveratrol. There are no data for regression and slowing of progression of atherosclerosis. Robust clinical trials for suppression of atherosclerosis are lacking. In conclusion, resveratrol has potential but experimental studies in depth and robust clinical trials are lacking for this agent to be of any value in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary and peripheral artery disease.     

Atherosclerosis, Inflammation, Genetics, and Stem Cells: 2012 Update

Atherosclerosis is a peculiar form of inflammation triggered by cholesterol-rich lipoproteins and other noxious factors such as cigarette smoke, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. Genetics also play an important role in the disease, accounting for about 40% of the risk. Of surprise in recent years of post-human genome sequencing, atherosclerosis-relevant genes discovered by non-biased techniques (ie, genome-wide association studies), did not rehash previously suspected pathways of lipid metabolism, diabetes, or hypertension. Instead these studies highlighted genes relevant to mechanisms of inflammation and stem cell biology. Only a minority of implicated genes were linked to lipid and other cardiac risk factor genes. Although such findings do not contradict the fact that atherosclerosis is triggered and exacerbated by elevated lipids, atherosclerosis "new genes" suggest that the mechanism responsible for the development of arterial lesions is more complex than a simple response to injury, where injury is necessary, but perhaps not sufficient, for disease progression.     

国际动脉粥样硬化学会“IAS中国行-2007”巡回演讲介绍

动脉粥样硬化性心脑血管疾病严重危害人类健康．是世界范围的主要死亡原因。1990年全世界死亡人数约5050万人．其中冠心病死亡人数高达626万人．居死因第一位。因脑血管病死亡的人数约为438万人．居死因第二位。我国动脉粥样硬化性疾病发病率近年来呈上升趋势．心脑血管疾病死亡人数占总死亡人数的比例已由1957年的12．07％升高到1997年的39．4％．     

Atherosclerosis,alcohol and diabetes

Diabetes is a known risk factor of atherosclerosis, moderate consumption of alcohol was reported to reduce the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This review presents information on the possible mechanisms of the antiatherogenic effect of alcohol and data of the effect of moderate alcohol drinking on the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Red wine contains polyphenols with an antioxidant effect, alcohol is metabolized to acetaldehyde which was proved to inhibit the formation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGE) and lipoprotein oxidation. Diabetic patients may benefit from moderate consumption of alcohol beverages only if the risk of hypoglycemia is safely excluded.     

国际动脉粥样硬化学会 “IAS中国行-2007”巡回演讲介绍

动脉粥样硬化性心脑血管疾病严重危害人类健康．是世界范围的主要死亡原因。1990年全世界死亡人数约5050万人．其中冠心病死亡人数高达626万人．居死因第一位。因脑血管病死亡的人数约为438万人．居死因第二位。我国动脉粥样硬化性疾病发病率近年来呈上升趋势．心脑血管疾病死亡人数占总死亡人数的比例已由1957年的12．07％升高到1997年的39．4％．     

国际动脉粥样硬化学会“IAS中国行-2007”巡回演讲介绍

动脉粥样硬化性心脑血管疾病严重危害人类健康，是世界范围的主要死亡原因。1990年全世界死亡人数约5050万人，其中冠心病死亡人数高达626万人．居死因第一位。因脑血管病死亡的人数约为438万人．居死因第二位。我国动脉粥样硬化性疾病发病率近年来呈上升趋势，心脑血管疾病死亡人数占总死亡人数的比例已由1957年的12．07％升高到1997年的39．4％．