Antioxidant rejuvenates blood vessels
The results obtained by researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder, working under the guidance of Professor Doug Seals, have once again confirmed that the use of pharmaceutical food additives – the so–called nutraceuticals - can play an important role in preventing the development of diseases of the cardiovascular system, which occupy the first place among the causes of mortality worldwide. In addition, they give a second life to the recently debunked theory that, if used correctly, oral antioxidant preparations can significantly improve health.
The clinical study conducted by the authors involved 20 healthy men and women aged 60-79 years. Half of them took 20 mg of a commercially available dietary supplement MitoQ daily, the active ingredient of which is the natural antioxidant coenzyme Q10, which selectively binds to mitochondria inside cells due to chemical modification. The other half of the participants took a placebo.
6 weeks after the start of the study, the authors assessed the functioning of the endothelium, the inner lining of the blood vessels of the participants, by measuring the degree of arterial dilation in conditions of increased blood flow.
After a two-week "washout period", the groups were reversed, that is, participants who had previously taken a placebo began taking MitoQ and vice versa. After 6 weeks, the vascular endothelium functionality was studied again.
The observations showed that while taking MitoQ, the ability of the arteries to expand improved by 42%, which corresponds to vascular rejuvenation for about 15-20 years. If the result is preserved, such an improvement in the condition is associated with a reduction in the risk of developing diseases of the cardiovascular system by about 13%. The conducted studies also showed that the registered improvement in the ability of the arteries to expand is due to a decrease in the severity of oxidative stress.
In addition, the authors note that taking MitoQ improved the condition of the arteries of participants who had increased rigidity (stiffness) of the arterial wall, which is also an indicator of impaired vascular function, against the background of taking placebo.
All these results fully corresponded to the observations previously obtained by researchers in experiments on mice. According to Dr. Sils, MitoQ eliminated age-related changes in the vascular function of old mice, returning their arteries to the condition of the arteries of young animals.
The authors explain that the thickening of the walls of blood vessels and their loss of the ability to expand is largely the result of oxidative stress – excessive synthesis of metabolic byproducts known as capable radicals. These compounds can damage the endothelium and disrupt its functions. A young body produces a sufficient amount of antioxidants that neutralize these free radicals. However, as we age, this balance is disturbed, and the body's defense mechanisms cease to cope with the free radical load.
The results of a number of large clinical studies have demonstrated the ineffectiveness of oral vitamin C and vitamin E preparations in relation to the rejuvenation of aging vessels. However, the data obtained by the authors indicate that selective exposure to mitochondria may be a more effective method of suppressing oxidative stress and improving the state of the aging cardiovascular system.
Earlier, the authors also demonstrated that another compound known as nicotinamide riboside contributes to slowing down the aging process of blood vessels.
According to Sils, regular physical activity and a healthy diet are the most reliable approaches to maintaining and maintaining the health of the cardiovascular system. However, in reality, most people do not adhere to these rules. Therefore, experts are looking for additional scientifically based methods to prevent age-related changes that trigger the development of diseases, and the compounds identified by the authors can be a solution to this problem.
Article by Matthew J. Rossman et al. Chronic Supplementation With a Mitochondrial Antioxidant (MitoQ) Improves Vascular Function in Healthy Older Adults is published in the journal Hypertension.
Evgenia Ryabtseva, portal "Eternal Youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of the University of Colorado at Boulder: Novel antioxidant makes old blood vessels seem young again.