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Published on: January 22, 2020
Vitamin E: Regulatory role in the cardiovascular system
Erdi Sozen1, Tugce Demirel1, Nesrin Kartal Ozer1
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Genetic and Metabolic Diseases Research and Investigation Center (GEMHAM), Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Vitamin E and its metabolites show potential in preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) by influencing cellular mechanisms. Further research into these compounds could lead to new strategies for reducing CVD risk.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cardiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading global cause of death.
- Vitamin E plays a crucial role in cellular and molecular mechanisms relevant to CVD prevention.
- Previous studies show mixed results regarding vitamin E's clinical benefits for CVD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review vitamin E's preventive effects on cardiovascular health.
- To explore novel insights into the mechanisms of vitamin E metabolites in CVD regulation.
- To discuss the biological actions of vitamin E and its derivatives in cardiovascular disease.
Main Methods:
- Review of cell culture and animal studies on vitamin E signaling pathways.
- Analysis of clinical trial data on vitamin E's cardiovascular effects.
- Examination of research on vitamin E metabolites and their roles in CVD.
Main Results:
- Vitamin E influences inflammation, lipid homeostasis, and atherosclerotic plaque stability.
- Some vitamin E functions are validated in clinical trials, but epidemiological studies show varied outcomes.
- Vitamin E metabolites offer new mechanistic insights into CVD regulation beyond the precursor form.
Conclusions:
- Emerging understanding of vitamin E's molecular and cellular actions can guide future CVD risk reduction studies.
- Vitamin E metabolites provide a deeper understanding of CVD mechanisms.
- Further investigation into vitamin E and its metabolites is warranted for cardiovascular health.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality, all around the world. Vitamin E is an important nutrient influencing key cellular and molecular mechanisms as well as gene expression regulation centrally involved in the prevention of CVD. Cell culture and animal studies have focused on the identification of vitamin E regulated signaling pathways and involvement on inflammation, lipid homeostasis, and atherosclerotic plaque stability. While some of these vitamin E functions were verified in clinical trials, some of the positive effects were not translated into beneficial outcomes in epidemiological studies. In recent years, the physiological metabolites of vitamin E, including the liver derived (long- and short-chain) metabolites and phosphorylated (α-, γ-tocopheryl phosphate) forms, have also provided novel mechanistic insight into CVD regulation that expands beyond the vitamin E precursor. It is certain that this emerging insight into the molecular and cellular action of vitamin E will help to design further studies, either in animal models or clinical trials, on the reduction of risk for CVDs. This review focuses on vitamin E-mediated preventive cardiovascular effects and discusses novel insights into the biology and mechanism of action of vitamin E metabolites in CVD. © 2019 IUBMB Life, 71(4):507-515, 2019.
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