Role of Nutraceuticals in Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Linked to Cardiometabolic Disorders

Dear Colleagues,

Despite the efforts toward primary prevention, cardiovascular diseases are still the most common causes of death and one of the first causes of disability in industrialized countries. Current opinions with respect to the etiology of cardiovascular diseases are still controversial. There are multiple factors involved, such as inflammation, vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, endothelial cells dysfunctions (EC), macrophage differentiation, and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress that results from the imbalance between reactive oxygen species and antioxidants is a one of the key factors; indeed, experimental and clinical evidence supports the casual relationship between oxidative stress and various cardiovascular diseases. Thus, numerous studies are focused on ameliorating these types of chronic diseases by reducing oxidative stress.

A relatively large number of dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, phytochemicals, and functional foods have been studied for their ability to improve blood lipid profile in humans and to protect cells from oxidative stress and from damages related to inflammatory conditions. The scientific community has recognized their effectiveness since 2001, when during the third National Cholesterol Educational Program, it was suggested to integrate dietary supplements such as soluble fibers, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), plant sterols, and soy protein into the diet in order to achieve an optimal low density lipoprotein–cholesterol (LDL-C) level. Similarly, in the new European guidelines for the management of dyslipidemias (Catapano et al. “ESC/EAS Guidelines for the management of dyslipidaemias. The Task Force for the management of dyslipidaemias of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS).” Atherosclerosis, 2011, 217(1), 3-46), some nutraceuticals were added as potentially useful for lipid-lowering agents. Since the prevention of cardiometabolic disorders needs an everyday approach, both the tolerability and safety of dietary supplements, either nutraceuticals or botanicals, have to be adequately defined, as well as understanding the precise mechanisms of action and the risk/benefit ratio related to their assumption.

In this Special Issue, we invite investigators to contribute original research articles reporting data from both experimental and clinical studies, as well as review articles, which provide a better understanding of the effects of nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, phytochemicals, and functional foods on cardiovascular diseases linked to oxidative stress and inflammation. Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

- Evaluation, by in vitro or in vivo studies, of the safety and the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the actions of natural compounds in relation to ROS-mediated signaling and redox modulation, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction;

- Evaluation of biomarkers of cardiometabolic health, by bioanalytical methods and biosensors for the determination of the biological effects of these substances;

- Nutraceuticals, new formulations or specific diets as therapeutic strategies;

- Nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics, and potential effect on the intestinal microbiome.

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