Blood Vessel Rejuvenation?

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

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With age, the blood vessels change: they become stiffer and are less able to respond to changes in blood pressure. In addition, plaques made of cholesterol, calcium and other substances are deposited in them and narrow them. This hardening of the blood vessels (arteriosclerosis) increases the risk of vascular blockages such as heart attacks and strokes.

Dietary supplements such as fish oil capsules or vitamins C and E, which are supposed to protect against such cardiovascular diseases, have largely disappointed. Researchers led by Matthew Rossman from the University of Colorado Boulder have now tested a chemically modified form of the naturally occurring coenzyme Q10, which is required by the body's cells to generate energy. This so-called MitQ is said to be able to rejuvenate the blood vessels of older people by up to 20 years.

Food supplements for cell power plants

The researchers recruited 20 healthy men between the ages of 60 and 79 for the experiment. Half of the participants took 20 milligrams of the active ingredient daily, the other half received an active ingredient-free placebo. After a washout phase of two weeks without medication, the previous placebo users received the active ingredient and vice versa.The study was carried out double-blind - that is, neither the researchers nor the patients knew who was receiving which preparation.

Healthy vessels are flexible

After six weeks, the scientists examined the function of the so-called endothelium of their test subjects. This layer of cells lines the inside of the blood vessels like wallpaper.

A healthy endothelium allows the vessels to react flexibly to changes in blood pressure. In addition, the endothelium influences the permeability of the blood vessels and, in a healthy state, inhibits the accumulation of blood platelets that could block the vessel. If the endothelial function is disturbed, the vessels cannot expand sufficiently when blood pressure values ​​rise, for example. Then the blood pressure continues to climb.

Vessels rejuvenated by 20 years

The result: After taking the active ingredient, the endothelial function of the participants improved by an average of 42 percent - this corresponds to the condition of vessels that are 15 to 20 years younger. This goes hand in hand with a 13 percent lower risk of heart disease, explains Rossman. The researchers attribute the effect to the reduction of oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress damages the blood vessels

Oxidative stress is understood to mean an increased occurrence of so-called free radicals. These aggressive oxygen compounds (ROS) are created in the body during metabolic processes. However, they are also formed by harmful environmental influences such as UV rays. ROS damage fats and proteins in the body and change the genetic material DNA.

In addition, ROS play a decisive role in the development of arteriosclerosis. They react with nitric oxide (NO), which normally counteracts a pathological change in the vascular wall.

The energy power plants of the cells - the mitochondria - also produce free radicals, which are called mtROS, as part of energy generation. Under physiologically unfavorable circumstances such as obesity or diabetes as well as normal aging processes, the mitochondria produce larger amounts of mtROS, which promotes arteriosclerotic changes.

Free radicals are defused

The active ingredient MitQ, which the test subjects took, specifically switched off the mtROS. It slows down the production of cytokines that trigger inflammatory reactions. This also applies to inflammatory processes in the vessels, which ultimately cause the arteriosclerotic changes.

"By targeting the mitochondria directly, we can reduce oxidative stress and improve cardiovascular health as we age," says Rossman.

Vascular protection in pill form

The researchers emphasize that sport and a healthy diet are the best-known levers for cardiovascular health. However, the reality is that many people are not ready to behave accordingly. "We are therefore looking for alternatives that counteract age-related changes that make the blood vessels sick," said the scientists. The active ingredient they are testing could be an option.

However, the active ingredient has so far only been tested on healthy patients. There is still no evidence as to whether damaged blood vessels also benefit.

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