Abstract
Fruits and vegetables (typically associated with the Mediterranean diet) are very rich in carotenoids, i.e. fat-soluble pigments really important in human life. Structurally, carotenoids consists of eleven (beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lycopene) or ten (alpha-carotene, lutein) conjugated double bonds, responsible for their antioxidant capability in agreement with their substituents. Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) particles oxidation process is the one of the most important first steps of atherosclerotic disease and, consequentially, the first pathogenetical step of cerebro- and cardiovascular events like myocardial infarction and stroke, which are the first cause of death in industrialized countries. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) also seem to be the target of Carotenoids main action, by scavenging singlet oxygen (1O2) and free radicals. Literature data showed that ROS increase atherosclerotic individual burden. The carotenoids scavenging action could reduce atherosclerosis progression partly due to such a decrease in ROS concentrations. Many studied demonstrated such a reduction by analyzing the relationship between carotenoids and Intima-Media Thickness of common carotid artery wall (CCA-IMT), [a well established marker of atherosclerosis evolution] reduction. Aim of this review is to evaluate actual knowledge about the importance of carotenoids molecules in slowing down the starting and the progression of atherosclerotic plaque, and to consider their implementation in everyone's diet as a tool to obtain a sharp decrease of LDL oxidation and their possible effect on endothelial function.
Keywords: Carotenoids, cardiovascular risk, oxidative stress, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular prevention, Mediterranean diet, fat-soluble pigments, LDL oxidation, CCA-IMT, endothelial function.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
Title:Carotenoids and Cardiovascular Risk
Volume: 18 Issue: 34
Author(s): Paola Giordano, Pietro Scicchitano, Manuela Locorotondo, Cosimo Mandurino, Gabriella Ricci, Santa Carbonara, Michele Gesualdo, Annapaola Zito, Annamaria Dachille, Paola Caputo, Roberta Riccardi, Giulia Frasso, Giuseppe Lassandro, Antonio Di Mauro and Marco Matteo Ciccone
Affiliation:
Keywords: Carotenoids, cardiovascular risk, oxidative stress, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular prevention, Mediterranean diet, fat-soluble pigments, LDL oxidation, CCA-IMT, endothelial function.
Abstract: Fruits and vegetables (typically associated with the Mediterranean diet) are very rich in carotenoids, i.e. fat-soluble pigments really important in human life. Structurally, carotenoids consists of eleven (beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lycopene) or ten (alpha-carotene, lutein) conjugated double bonds, responsible for their antioxidant capability in agreement with their substituents. Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) particles oxidation process is the one of the most important first steps of atherosclerotic disease and, consequentially, the first pathogenetical step of cerebro- and cardiovascular events like myocardial infarction and stroke, which are the first cause of death in industrialized countries. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) also seem to be the target of Carotenoids main action, by scavenging singlet oxygen (1O2) and free radicals. Literature data showed that ROS increase atherosclerotic individual burden. The carotenoids scavenging action could reduce atherosclerosis progression partly due to such a decrease in ROS concentrations. Many studied demonstrated such a reduction by analyzing the relationship between carotenoids and Intima-Media Thickness of common carotid artery wall (CCA-IMT), [a well established marker of atherosclerosis evolution] reduction. Aim of this review is to evaluate actual knowledge about the importance of carotenoids molecules in slowing down the starting and the progression of atherosclerotic plaque, and to consider their implementation in everyone's diet as a tool to obtain a sharp decrease of LDL oxidation and their possible effect on endothelial function.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Giordano Paola, Scicchitano Pietro, Locorotondo Manuela, Mandurino Cosimo, Ricci Gabriella, Carbonara Santa, Gesualdo Michele, Zito Annapaola, Dachille Annamaria, Caputo Paola, Riccardi Roberta, Frasso Giulia, Lassandro Giuseppe, Di Mauro Antonio and Matteo Ciccone Marco, Carotenoids and Cardiovascular Risk, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2012; 18 (34) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212803307527
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161212803307527 |
Print ISSN 1381-6128 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1873-4286 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
"Tuberculosis Prevention, Diagnosis and Drug Discovery"
The Nobel Prize-winning discoveries of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and streptomycin have enabled an appropriate diagnosis and an effective treatment of tuberculosis (TB). Since then, many newer diagnosis methods and drugs have been saving millions of lives. Despite advances in the past, TB is still a leading cause of infectious disease mortality ...read more
Current Pharmaceutical challenges in the treatment and diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions
Neurological dysfunctions (MND, ALS, MS, PD, AD, HD, ALS, Autism, OCD etc..) present significant challenges in both diagnosis and treatment, often necessitating innovative approaches and therapeutic interventions. This thematic issue aims to explore the current pharmaceutical landscape surrounding neurological disorders, shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers, clinicians, and ...read more
Emerging and re-emerging diseases
Faced with a possible endemic situation of COVID-19, the world has experienced two important phenomena, the emergence of new infectious diseases and/or the resurgence of previously eradicated infectious diseases. Furthermore, the geographic distribution of such diseases has also undergone changes. This context, in turn, may have a strong relationship with ...read more
Melanoma and Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Treatment: Standard of Care and Recent Advances
In this thematic issue, we aim to provide a standard of care of the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. The editor will invite authors from different countries who will write review articles of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. The Diagnosis, Staging, Surgical Treatment, Non-Surgical Treatment all ...read more
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Fibrinolytic Actinokinase-A Short Review
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry The Control of Arterial Hypertension: Epidemiological and Economic Challenge
Current Hypertension Reviews Inodilators in the Management of Low Cardiac Output Syndrome After Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Current Vascular Pharmacology Apolipoprotein B and Apolipopotein A-I in Vascular Risk Prediction-A Review
Current Pharmaceutical Design Comparison between Atorvastatin and Rosuvastatin on Secondary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Rate and the Risk Factors in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease
Current Drug Metabolism Design and Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Drug in Adhesive Transdermal Delivery System of Vildagliptin
Drug Delivery Letters Editorial (Thematic Issue: Calcium in Heart Disease: The Ubiquitous Ion)
Medicinal Chemistry Redox Chemistry of Green Tea Polyphenols: Therapeutic Benefits in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Pathophysiology and Treatment of Obesity Hypertension
Current Pharmaceutical Design Therapeutic Approaches in the Stimulation of the Coronary Collateral Circulation
Current Cardiology Reviews Wide Pulse Pressure in the Elderly
Current Cardiology Reviews Biologics and the Cardiovascular System: A Double-Edged Sword
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Stem Cell Therapy in Chronic Ischemic Heart Dysfunction with and Without Viability
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Biologically Responsive Nanosystems Targeting Cardiovascular Diseases
Current Drug Delivery Community Expansion and Gene Geography of Sickle Cell Trait and G6PD Deficiency, and Natural Selection against Malaria: Experience from Tribal Land of India
Cardiovascular & Hematological Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Current and Experimental Antibody-Based Therapeutics: Insights, Breakthroughs, Setbacks and Future Directions
Current Molecular Medicine Hybrid Stress Testing by Adenosine Infusion and Exercise Myocardial Perfusion Imaging: A Critical Appraisal
Current Cardiology Reviews Insulin Therapy for Improving Cardiac Surgical Outcomes
Current Drug Targets Fragment-Based Optimization of Small Molecule CXCL12 Inhibitors for Antagonizing the CXCL12/CXCR4 Interaction
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Incretin-based Therapies for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Effects on Insulin Resistance
Current Diabetes Reviews