Polyphenols: Potential Use in the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

Title:Polyphenols: Potential Use in the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases

Volume: 24 Issue: 2

Author(s): Rosaria Vincenza Giglio, Angelo Maria Patti, Arrigo F.G. Cicero, Giuseppe Lippi, Manfredi Rizzo*, Peter P. Toth and Maciej Banach

Affiliation:

• Biomedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo,Italy

Keywords: Polyphenols, flavonoids, lignans, stilbenes, phenolic acids, prevention, therapy, cardiovascular risk.

Abstract: Background: Polyphenols are bioactive compounds that can be found mostly in foods like fruits, cereals, vegetables, dry legumes, chocolate and beverages such as coffee, tea and wine. They are extensively used in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) providing protection against many chronic illnesses. Their effects on human health depend on the amount consumed and on their bioavailability. Many studies have demonstrated that polyphenols have also good effects on the vascular system by lowering blood pressure, improving endothelial function, increasing antioxidant defences, inhibiting platelet aggregation and low-density lipoprotein oxidation, and reducing inflammatory responses.

Methods: This review is focused on some groups of polyphenols and their effects on several cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, oxidative stress, atherogenesis, endothelial dysfunction, carotid artery intima-media thickness, diabetes and lipid disorders.

Results: It is proved that these compounds have many cardio protective functions: they alter hepatic cholesterol absorption, triglyceride biosynthesis and lipoprotein secretion, the processing of lipoproteins in plasma, and inflammation. In some cases, human long-term studies did not show conclusive results because they lacked in appropriate controls and in an undefined polyphenol dosing regimen.

Conclusion: Rigorous evidence is necessary to demonstrate whether or not polyphenols beneficially impact CVD prevention and treatment.

Cite this article as:

Giglio Vincenza Rosaria, Patti Maria Angelo, Cicero F.G. Arrigo , Lippi Giuseppe , Rizzo Manfredi*, Toth P. Peter and Banach Maciej , Polyphenols: Potential Use in the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2018; 24 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612824666180130112652