Dietary Restriction, Cardiovascular Aging and Age-Related Cardiovascular Diseases: A Review of the Evidence

Abstract

Both morbidity and mortality due to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) elevate with age. The elevated prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors with age and cardiovascular aging contribute to the relationship between aging and CVDs. Dietary restriction (DR) consisting of calorie restriction (CR) and alternate-day fasting (ADF) is an approved nutritional intervention and shows anti-aging impacts. Recent studies demonstrate that DR makes an active defense response in stressful states. At the core of this response are cardiovascular protective signals, which consist of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP-activated kinase, sirtuins and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. These make a network with positive and negative feedback regulation. Hence, DR is a hopeful intervention for controlling cardiovascular aging and managing individuals with CVDs.

Keywords: Age-related cardiovascular diseases; Alternate-day fasting; Animal models; Calorie restriction; Cardiovascular aging; Humans.