Nutrient gene interactions and the therapeutic potential of diet in the prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular diseases is significant. Diets containing natural antioxidants appear to afford protection against coronary heart disease.
Soybean isoflavones genistein and daidzein have natural antioxidant properities.Epidemiological evidence indicates that an increased intake of soy isoflavones is associated with a lower incidence of coronary heart disease.
In clinical studies, isoflavones have been shown to acutely modulate vascular reactivity in healthy postmenopausal women and male subjects in vivo. Infusion of genistein or dihydroequol into the brachial artery, at concentrations achieved in populations consuming an isoflavone rich diet, evoked concentration and endothelium dependent increases in forearm blood flow. A high dietary intake of isoflavones is associated with a lower pulse wave velocity. This means less vascular stiffening.
Isoflavones also modulate vascular tone by inhibiting Ca2+ influx via L-type Ca2+ channels in vascular smooth muscle cells.
Longer-term supplementation with soy isoflavones improves arterial compliance in men and postmenopausal women, increases plasma nitrite/nitrate levels and decreases plasma endothelin-1 levels.
Chocolate chiffon pie made with polyphenol rich dark chocolate & silken tofu, nurtures the heart !
Source:
Activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase by dietary isoflavones: Role of NO in Nrf2-mediated antioxidant gene expression
Giovanni E. Mann, David J. Rowlands MD's,
Cardiovascular Research (2007) 75(2):261-274
The phytoestrogen genistein produces acute nitric oxide dependent dilation of human forearm vasculature with similar potency to 17beta-estradiol.
Walker H.A., Dean T.S., Sanders T.A.
Circulation (2001) 103:258–262.
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