Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) contribute to a large part of worldwide mortality. Similarly, two of the major risk factors for these diseases, aging and obesity, are also global problems. Aging, the gradual decline of body functions, is non-modifiable. Obesity, a modifiable risk factor for CVDs, also predisposes to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Moreover, it affects not only the vasculature and the heart but also specific fat depots, which themselves have a major impact on the development and progression of CVDs. Common denominators of aging, obesity, and T2DM include oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic abnormalities such as altered lipid profiles and glucose metabolism, and inflammation. Several plant substances such as curcumin, the major active compound in turmeric root, have been used for a long time in traditional medicine and for the treatment of CVDs. Newer mechanistic, animal, and human studies provide evidence that curcumin has pleiotropic effects and attenuates numerous parameters which contribute to an increased risk for CVDs in aging as well as in obesity. Thus, curcumin as a nutraceutical could hold promise in the prevention of CVDs, but more standardized clinical trials are required to fully unravel its potential.
Highlights
This report revealed that Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) do not exclusively affect industrialized countries, as over three-quarters of CVD-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries
The aging process per se is a non-modifiable risk factor, as it cannot be reversed. Other factors such as obesity, which, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) report on global health risks, is one of the major causes of ischemic heart disease [2], are modifiable, meaning that measures can be taken to change them and thereby reduce the risk for CVDs
With respect to age-associated associated endothelial dysfunction, it was shown that the dietary curcumin endothelial dysfunction, it was shown that the dietary curcumin supplementation of old supplementation of old mice for 4 weeks led to improved vasodilation and a reduction in mice for 4 weeks led to improved vasodilation and a reduction in age-related large artery age-related large artery stiffness
Summary
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the almost 18 million deaths due to CVDs accounted for 32% of global deaths in 2019. In addition to being the major cause of death worldwide, CVDs lead to a great number of chronically ill patients, and as a consequence, to an immense socio-economic burden. Other factors such as obesity, which, according to the WHO report on global health risks, is one of the major causes of ischemic heart disease [2], are modifiable, meaning that measures can be taken to change them and thereby reduce the risk for CVDs. Many natural substances have been used in traditional medicine in many regions of the world, often for thousands of years. We will highlight the impact of curcumin on age-related cardiovascular dysfunction, adipose tissue, and obesity, as well as its protective effects in atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction
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