[Vascular dysfunction: Processes Caused by aging, approaches to restorative therapy and prevention (part 2).]

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Pharmacology
• Preventive Medicine

Background:

• Vascular and endothelial dysfunction are key risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
• Diets rich in plant-derived antioxidants, particularly flavonoids like flavanols, are linked to reduced cardiovascular disease incidence.
• Humic acids (HA) from peat represent an underutilized, accessible source of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic benefits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of plant product-based diets and peat-derived humic acid (HA) compounds in rehabilitation and prevention of vascular dysfunction.
• To highlight HA as a promising, cost-effective raw material for drug development in 'green' chemistry.
• To emphasize the need for further research into HA's therapeutic efficacy for vascular dysfunction and related pathologies.

Main Methods:

• Review of epidemiological studies on diet and cardiovascular health.
• Analysis of the chemical composition and biological activity of humic substances from peat.
• Exploration of HA's role in endothelial function and nitric oxide (NO) production.

Main Results:

• Plant-derived flavanols improve cardiovascular function by stimulating endothelial function and NO production.
• Humic acids (HA) possess a wide range of biological activities beneficial for conditions rooted in vascular dysfunction.
• Russia has abundant peat resources, offering significant potential for HA-based product development.

Conclusions:

• Dietary interventions with plant products and the development of HA-based biologically active additives are promising for vascular health.
• HA-based drugs offer a sustainable and cost-effective approach to managing vascular dysfunction.
• Further investigation and utilization of natural HA sources are crucial for domestic medicine and cardiovascular disease prevention.