Abstract
Being naturally enriched in key nutrients and in various health-promoting compounds, seaweeds represent promising candidates for the design of functional foods. Soluble dietary fibers, peptides, phlorotannins, lipids and minerals are macroalgae’s major compounds that can hold potential in high-value food products derived from macroalgae, including those directed to the cardiovascular-health promotion. This manuscript revises available reported data focusing the role of diet supplementation of macroalgae, or extracts enriched in bioactive compounds from macroalgae origin, in targeting modifiable markers of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), like dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, vascular inflammation, hypertension, hypercoagulability and activation of the sympathetic and renin-angiotensin systems, among others. At last, the review also describes several products that have been formulated with the use of whole macroalgae or extracts, along with their claimed cardiovascular-associated benefits.
Highlights
Introductioncardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, which include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease and deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism [1]
The results showed that Sargassum polycystum was more effective in decreasing plasma cholesterol when compared to Kappaphycus alvarezii or with the mixture of the two extracts, though an increase in plasmatic TG levels by 16.66%
The results suggest that fucoxanthin exerts its effects on cholesterol metabolism and in the transport system by down-regulation of the LDL receptor and the class B type 1 scavenger receptor, along with inducing sterol regulatory element binding protein expression [84]
Summary
CVDs are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, which include coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease and deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism [1]. There are some non-modifiable risk factors for CVDs such as family history, ethnicity and age, most CVDs arise as a consequence of modern-society habits, including an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol [3]. These behavior risk factors are normally reflected in individuals by a dyslipidemia, raised blood pressure, overweight and obesity. Dietary interventions such as reduction of salt in the diet, consuming of fruits and vegetables, food enriched in unsaturated fats and potassium, are accepted as strongly associated with a decreased risk for CVDs [8]
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