February is heart
health month so of course we start to see more posts on heart-healthy recipes
and natural ingredients. One thing you might notice is that many of these
natural compounds fall into the category of antioxidants. This is a broad term
that includes any substance that that can prevent or slow damage to cells
caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that are produced
in our bodies as results of normal cell energy production or from external
damaging influences (i.e. UV radiation, chemicals etc.). The cardiovascular
system is especially sensitive to the effects of free radicals. One reason is
that our heart is a muscle that is working all the time to push blood
throughout our bodies. Since this finally tuned organ needs high amounts of
cellular energy, its packed with many mitochondria, our energy power plants
inside each cell. Each mitochondrion needs a steady supply of antioxidants to
keep it from being bogged down by free radicals. So, it’s no surprise that all the
heart-friendly nutrients, botanicals and vitamins are also potent
mitochondria-friendly antioxidants. The second reason the heart needs ample
amounts of antioxidants is not because of the heart itself, but rather the
vessels that travel throughout the body supplying life-giving oxygen and
nutrients. The lining of the blood vessels is called the endothelium and it’s
of paramount important to regulating blood flow and allowing nutrients to pass
into the cells. Now let’s explore some nutrients with the most evidence
supporting cardiovascular benefit, dispel some common myths surrounding them and
ultimately giving you the facts to choose the right nutrient.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is most
well known for its use to combat colds but a recent large-scale review study
confirmed that 500mg of vitamin C reduced oxidative and inflammatory damage in
the blood vessel wall (also called the endothelium). The researchers suggested
that one of the reasons vitamin C has this beneficial effect was because it
preserves nitric oxide function, a key factor in keeping blood vessels relaxed.
However, the
benefits of vitamin C are not limited to nitric oxide. Over 25 years ago Dr. Linus Pauling and Dr.
Mathias Rath, the fathers of orthomolecular medicine, identified vitamin C as
an essential factor in blood vessel healing. Unfortunately, most people don’t
have adequate levels of vitamin C and instead their body uses a fat complex
called Lipoprotein A (similar to LDL cholesterol) to patch up damage to the
endothelial wall. The negative tradeoff is that Lipoprotein A also inhibits an
enzyme that breaks down blood clots. This creates a situation where the blood
is stickier which can lead to health issues. Fortunately, the amino acids
L-lysine and L-proline counteract the effects of Lipoprotein A by inactivating
it and preventing the binding to blood clots. Dr.’s Pauling and Rath also
discovered that L-lysine and L-proline are synergistic with the effect of
vitamin C in repairing the blood vessel wall. The elastin and collagen that
give strength and flexibility to the arterial wall are rich in both of these
amino acids. Vitamin C replaces the need for lipoprotein A since it is a key
factor in collagen formation and repair. Dr Pauling and Dr Rath started using
the combination of vitamin C with L-lysine and L-proline as a key protective
factor in patients. AOR was the first company to appreciate the groundbreaking
work of Pauling and Rath and created a product based on their original
formulation. The product Ortho C+ contains the aforementioned ingredients plus
essential electrolytes magnesium, potassium and calcium. This formula is an
excellent preventative strategy that supports optimal heart health. Along with
a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, Ortho C+ gives your blood vessels some
tender loving care they deserve.
Vitamin E
One of the most
frequently studied natural compounds is vitamin E. It is a family of molecules
that have a potent antioxidant effect in fat rich tissues such as skin, nerves
and vital organs. A number of studies have found that vitamin E supplementation
reduces damage to the outer membrane of the cell, supports heart function,
improves hot flashes in menopause and supports healthy cholesterol levels.
You may have heard
of some conflicting research results when it comes to vitamin E. This is most
likely due to a number of flaws that exist in the use of vitamin E in research
trials. Vitamin E is a family of eight molecules (four tocopherols and four
tocotrienols) that function synergistically in human physiology. Most studies
have only used low doses of α-tocopherol, which has been thought to be the
active form in human physiology since it’s the most common form found in
tissues. Most studies state they use vitamin E but in reality, they are only
supplementing with one form (α-tocopherol) and not the full group of molecules
that makes up vitamin E. One reason that α-tocopherol may have detrimental
effect just by itself is that it prevents the absorption and distribution of
other forms of tocopherols and tocotrienols. Emerging evidence suggests that
the tocotrienol family has even more benefits than the tocopherols in stroke
recovery, cancer prevention and vascular health.
In addition,
vitamin E works with other antioxidants such as vitamin C and Coenzyme Q10 as
part of an antioxidant network. Supplementation with a single antioxidant can
lead to itself becoming oxidized if adequate levels of supporting antioxidants
are not present. The synergistic nature of the vitamin E family highlights the
need to supplement antioxidants together in order to support their proper
biological function in the body. The full spectrum of tocopherols and
tocotrienol offer unique and pronounced health benefits if we can get adopt the
reality that they must be supplemented together. Whenever looking for a vitamin
E supplement make sure that it contains all eight forms for vitamin E to
harness all the beneficially effects.
CoQ10
Probably the most
studied and well-known nutrient that supports cardiovascular and mitochondrial
function is Coenzyme Q10. It plays a direct role in cellular energy production
and is a powerful antioxidant within the mitochondrial membrane. Unfortunately,
the body’s production of CoQ10 peaks around age 20 and then declines constantly
with age. Statin (anti-cholesterol) medications can further deplete CoQ10
levels causing muscle pains leading to a need for extra supplementation. There
is a substantial amount of research showing that CoQ10 has numerous health
benefits including improving heart function, nerve repair, slowing brain
decline, preventing migraines and promoting muscle recovery. The strongest
evidence supporting CoQ10 supplementation shows it can improve heart muscle
function and promote healthy blood pressure. This beneficial effect is
primarily due to CoQ10’s ability to promote energy production in the
mitochondria. CoQ10 also has a powerful antioxidant activity, and even
“recharges” other antioxidants by keeping them in their active states.
Other
Mitochondrial Antioxidants
Other natural
compounds that have been shown to have antioxidant effects in the mitochondria
include lipoic acid, resveratrol, found in wine and grapes, curcumin from
turmeric and EGCG, found abundantly in green tea.
Take-Aways
- Vitamin
C is a potent antioxidant that protects blood vessel walls and reduces the
stickiness of blood.
- Use a
complete source of vitamin E with all eight forms
- Antioxidants
work better together since they recycle each other.
References:
- Ashor
AW, Lara J, Mathers JC, Siervo M. Effect of vitamin C on endothelial function
in health and disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised
controlled trials. Atherosclerosis. 2014 Jul;235(1):9-20.
- Lippi
G, Guidi G. Lipoprotein(a): an emerging cardiovascular risk factor. Crit Rev
Clin Lab Sci. 2003 Feb; 40(1): 1-42.
- Rath
M. and Pauling L. Immunological evidence for the accumulation of lipoprotein(a)
in the atherosclerotic lesion of the hypoascorbemic guinea pig. PNAS. 87(23):
9388-90.
- Rath
M, Pauling L. Hypothesis: lipoprotein(a) is a surrogate for ascorbate. PNAS.
1990 Aug; 87(16): 6204-7.
- Gee PT
. Unleashing the untold and misunderstood observations on vitamin E. Genes
Nutr. 2011 Feb;6(1):5-16.
- Sen
CK, Khanna S, Roy S (2007) Tocotrienols in health and disease: the other half
of the natural vitamin E family. Mol Aspects of Med 28:693–728
- Bonakdar
RA, Guarneri E. Coenzyme Q10. Am Fam Physician. 2005 Sep 15;72(6):1065-70.
- Sharma
et al. Coenzyme Q10 and Heart Failure: A
State-of-the-Art Review. Circ Heart Fail. 2016 Apr;9(4):e002639.
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