The Effect of Resveratrol on the Cardiovascular System from Molecular Mechanisms to Clinical Results

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide. The cardioprotective effects of natural polyphenols such as resveratrol (3,5,4-trihydroxystilbene) have been extensively investigated throughout recent decades. Many studies of RES have focused on its favorable effects on pathological conditions related to cardiovascular diseases and their risk factors. The aim of this review was to summarize the wide beneficial effects of resveratrol on the cardiovascular system, including signal transduction pathways of cell longevity, energy metabolism of cardiomyocytes or cardiac remodeling, and its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In addition, this paper discusses the significant preclinical and human clinical trials of recent years with resveratrol on cardiovascular system. Finally, we present a short overview of antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties and possible future perspectives on RES against COVID-19 in cardiovascular diseases

Hemorheological Alterations in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction Treated by Resveratrol

Objectives. Several beneficial effects of resveratrol have already been published. This study evaluated the effect of resveratrol on the hemorheological parameters in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Methods. In our double-blind, placebo-controlled human clinical trial, we enrolled 60 outpatients with heart failure. Patients were randomized into two groups: receiving either 100 mg resveratrol capsule daily or placebo for 3 months. Hematocrit was determined by microhematocrit centrifuge. Plasma and whole blood viscosity was evaluated by capillary viscometer. Erythrocyte aggregation was measured by both LORCA and Myrenne aggregometers. LORCA ektacytometer was used for measuring erythrocyte deformability. Exercise capacity was assessed by a 6-minute walk test. Results. Resveratrol treatment did not have any significant effect on hematocrit and viscosity. The erythrocyte deformability also remained unchanged. However, significant improvement of red blood cell aggregation was observed in the resveratrol group compared to baseline after 3 months. Furthermore, positive correlation was found between the exercise capacity and the hemorheological properties (Hct, WBV, and RBC aggregation and deformability) as well. Conclusion. These findings indicate that resveratrol can significantly reduce red blood cell aggregation, which may positively influence microcirculation, which may contribute to the improvement of tissue perfusion and oxygen supply in heart failure

Orally given gastroprotective capsaicin does not modify aspirin-induced platelet aggregation in healthy male volunteers (human phase I examination)

Capsaicin is a well-known component of red pepper. Recent studies have shown that capsaicin could prevent gastric ulcer provoked by various NSAID-s like acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Primary objective of this human clinical phase I trial was to investigate whether two different doses of capsaicin co-administered with ASA could alter the inhibitory effect of ASA on platelet aggregation. 15 healthy male subjects were involved in the study and treated orally with 400 μg capsaicin, 800 μg capsaicin, 500 mg ASA, 400 μg capsaicin+500 mg ASA and 800 μg capsaicin+500 mg ASA. Blood was drawn before and 1, 2, 6 and 24 hours after the drug administration. After that epinephrine induced platelet aggregation was measured by optical aggregometry. Between treatments, volunteers had a 6-day wash-out period. Our results showed that capsaicin had no effect on platelet aggregation, while as expected, ASA monotherapy resulted in a significant and clinically effective platelet aggregation inhibition (p ≤ 0.001). The combined ASA-capsaicin therapies reached equivalent effectiveness in platelet aggregation inhibition as ASA monotherapy. Our investigation proved that capsaicin did not influence the inhibitory effect of ASA on platelet aggregation, thus the capsaicin-ASA treatment would combine the antiplatelet effect of ASA with the possible gastroprotection of capsaicin

Resveratrol Improves Heart Function by Moderating Inflammatory Processes in Patients with Systolic Heart Failure

The effects of resveratrol (RES) in heart failure have already been evaluated in animal models; however, in human clinical trials, they have not been confirmed yet. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of resveratrol treatment in systolic heart failure patients (heart failure with reduced ejection fraction or HFrEF). In this human clinical trial, 60 outpatients with NYHA (New York Heart Association) class II-III HFrEF were enrolled and randomized into two groups: receiving either 100-mg resveratrol daily or placebo for three months. At the beginning and at the end of the study echocardiography, a six-minute walk test, spirometry, quality of life questionnaire, lab test and RNA profile analysis were performed. The systolic and diastolic left ventricular function, as well as the global longitudinal strain, were improved significantly in the resveratrol-treated group (RES). Exercise capacity, ventilation parameters and quality of life also improved significantly in the RES group. In parallel, the cardiac biomarker levels (N-terminal prohormone of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and galectin-3) decreased in the treated group. The level of inflammatory cytokines decreased significantly after RES supplementation, as a consequence of the decreased expression level of leucocyte electron transport chain proteins. The main findings of our trial are that RES treatment added to the standard heart failure therapy improved heart function and the clinical condition by moderating the inflammatory processes in patients with HFrEF

Cardiovascular risk factors in coeliac disease (ARCTIC): a protocol of multicentre series of studies

Introduction There is only limited and controversial information available on the cardiovascular (CV) risk in coeliac disease (CD). In this study, we plan to investigate the body composition and CV risk-related metabolic parameters at the diagnosis of CD and on a gluten-free diet in a Hungarian cohort of patients with CD.Methods and analysis This study consists of two case–control studies and a prospective cohort study, involving newly diagnosed and treated patients with CD with age and sex-matched non-CD control subjects with an allocation ratio of 1:1. CD-related symptoms, quality of life, quality of the diet and CV risk will be assessed with questionnaires. Our primary outcomes are body composition parameters, which will be estimated with InBody 770 device. Secondary outcomes are CV-risk related metabolic parameters (eg, serum lipids, haemoglobin A1c, homeostatic model assessment index, liver enzymes, homocysteine, interleukin 6, galectin-3) and enteral hormones (leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin) measured from venous blood samples for all participants. Fatty liver disease will be assessed by transabdominal ultrasonography. In statistical analysis, descriptive and comparative statistics will be performed. With this study, we aim to draw attention to the often neglected metabolic and CV aspect of the management of CD. Findings may help to identify parameters to be optimised and reassessed during follow-up in patients with CD.Ethics and dissemination The study was approved by the Scientific and Research Ethics Committee of the Hungarian Medical Research Council (27521-5/2022/EÜIG). Findings will be disseminated at research conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration number NCT05530070

Outcomes in Newly Diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation and History of Acute Coronary Syndromes: Insights from GARFIELD-AF

BACKGROUND: Many patients with atrial fibrillation have concomitant coronary artery disease with or without acute coronary syndromes and are in need of additional antithrombotic therapy. There are few data on the long-term clinical outcome of atrial fibrillation patients with a history of acute coronary syndrome. This is a 2-year study of atrial fibrillation patients with or without a history of acute coronary syndromes