Antioxidant Therapy: Is it your Gateway to Improved Cardiovascular Health?

Abstract

General use and popularity of over-the-counter supplemental antioxidants have rapidly spread all over the world and are believed to promote cardiovascular health and wellbeing. However, there is a paucity of information and lack of proof that physiological and above-physiological levels of oxidants do harm at the cellular and organismal levels. Instead, several reports demonstrated that reduction in Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) did not improve vascular function. Interestingly, recent studies show that increased ROS levels play protective role in vascular endothelium and may improve coronary endothelial function. In the current review, we introduce the concept that increased ROS levels, often seen in association with cardiovascular disease, probably is an endothelial-way or 'oxidative response' to cope with vascular pathology.

Keywords: Antioxidants; Coronary artery disease; Endothelial health; Oxidative response; Oxidative stress.

Figure 1. Sources of Endothelial ROS and NO

It also demonstrates how increased ROS may tip the balance of NO vs. ONOO in vascular pathological conditions.

Figure 2. Model for EC-specific ‘Oxidative Response’ to improve endothelial function

NADPH oxidase-derived ROS activates CaMKKβ-AMPK, which in turn, activates eNOS to induce NO-mediated vasodilatation and inhibits mTOR resulting in protective autophagy in vascular endothelium.