Endothelial glycocalyx
...
...a new focus for cardiovascular risk reduction...
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Here we are again:
Saturday
! and reflecting on my work over the last week, the most exciting information I learned was the role of a Teflon-like coating that exists along the walls of our arteries and blood vessels called...
Endothelial Glycocalyx
Did you know?
Cardiovascular disease continues to be the Number One cause of death in the US.
Approximately every 40 seconds in America someone will have a heart attack.
Approximately every 40 seconds someone will have a stroke.
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Endothelial glycocalyx is...
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...a gel-like glycoprotein layer that coats the inner surface of the endothelium throughout the vascular tree. It has become a new focus for reducing risks of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.
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Endothelial glycocalyx (in blue) creates a "non-stick coating" on vessel walls.
Image courtesy Mei Liu, U Western Ontario
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Micrograph of endothelial glycocalyx. Fibers are 1-2 microns in length.
Image: Niewdorp, et al. Courtesy Wolters Kluwer
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The glycocalyx has multiple functions...
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- It mediates nitric oxide synthesis and superoxide dysmutation
- It acts as a protective "sieving" barrier
- It inhibits platelet adherence and coagulation
- It regulates inflammation by preventing leukocyte adhesion to the vessel walls
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"In lesion-prone areas of the vasculature, the glycocalyx tends to be thin, and glycocalyx damage correlates strongly with many risk factors for CVD, explained Hans Vink, PhD, of the Department of Physiology,
Cardiovascular Research Institute,
Maastricht University, Netherlands.
Speaking at Holistic Primary Care's 4th annual
Heal Thy Practice
conference, Dr. Vink reviewed the growing body of evidence pointing to the glycocalyx as an important but previously overlooked indicator of vessel health and disease risk."
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Of considerable clinical importance is the fact that damage to the glycocalyx appears to be an early event in CVD pathogenesis. The glycocalyx may be the first-line of defense against atherosclerosis, and glycocalyx damage may be an early marker of increased vascular vulnerability.
"Glycocalyx is already thin at lesion-prone sites, and it is damaged by atherogenic factors. Glycocalyx volume is markedly reduced in
people who smoke
, in those with
high chronic inflammation
, and in people with
hyperglycemia
," he said. There is also increased leakage of LDL at lesion-prone sites with thin glycocalyx
(
Van den Berg, Spaan & Vink. Eur J Physiol 2009, 457:1199-1206
)
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Drum roll please... now...how to
repair
it!
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Dr. Vink contends that glycocalyx damage is a reversible risk factor, arguably one of the earliest.
Working with Vascular Health Sciences, he has been involved in developing a nutraceutical product called
Arterosil
that could potentially restore and rebuild damaged glycocalyx.
Arterosil is a dietary supplement that contains rhamnan sulfate, a compound found in green seaweed (monostroma nitidum), which grows in Asia.
It helps improve the health of the inside lining of your arteries, called the endothelial glycocalyx.
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This approach was originally pioneered by Dr. Bruce A. Daniels, an Oklahoma City internist who initially postulated the concept that sulfated polysaccharides might have therapeutic benefit in improving vascular health.
While there are not yet any clinical trials, researchers at the Glycocalyx Research Group in Maastricht have shown restorative effects and prevention of lymphocyte adhesion in mice and hamsters with experimentally induced glycocalyx damage.
A preliminary study is underway, looking at glycocalyx thickness in 60 healthy human subjects randomized to placebo or supplementation with the Arterosil formula, which in addition to the seaweed extract also contains antioxidants and polyphenols extracted from grapes, oranges, black currants, apricots, green tea, olive leaf, onion, garlic and other plant sources.
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PMCID: PMC3433884
Therapeutic importance of sulfated polysaccharides from seaweeds: updating the recent findings
Abstract
Seaweeds, being prolific sources of bioactive components have garnered unprecedented interest in recent times. The complex polysaccharides from the brown, red and green seaweeds possess broad spectrum therapeutic properties. Especially, the sulfated polysaccharides, viz. fucans, carrageenans and ulvans have exhibited strong antioxidant, antitumor, immunostimulatory, anti-inflammatory, pulmonary fibrosis anticoagulant/antithrombotic, lipid lowering, antiviral, antibacterial, antiprotozoan, hyperplasia prevention, gastrointestinal, regenerative and nano medicine applications. Considering the immense biomedical prospects of sulfated polysaccharides, the profound and emerging functional properties published in recent times will be discussed here with experimental evidences. The limitations of the seaweed-derived sulfated polysaccharides in healthcare will be summarized. Strategies to maximize extraction and bioavailability will be pondered.
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Finally...
Don't let someone else do your thinking for you...
Keep an open mind...
Things you likely haven't heard...
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I'm putting this info out there. I am not saying these represent my view of things - there's lots of science to sort out - but we are getting one stream of input regarding health all stemming from the same "club."
Clubs like this wield amazing power and exert enormous control.
In my opinion, that's the "scariest" thing about this entire "thing."
You can reject any information, but you can't do anything with information you don't have to begin with...
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Interview with Andrew Kaufman, MD
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Jon Rappoport has been covering the allegations and events regarding the coronavirus and Covid-19 since they first hit the headlines.
Jon just recorded three episodes that he wanted to make available to the public.
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Updated Business Policy & Hours
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We continue to maintain our normal business hours, but with modifications for the present time.
In cooperation with the community's social distancing policy, our building is closed from the outside.
We are filling orders and delivering to the front door of the building take-out style.
We are filling orders and mailing them out, as we always have.
I am seeing clients in consultation via phone and video conference only at this time.
Me and my staff are the only people in our space until further notice.
I am modifying our hours temporarily:
9:30-5:00 since most people are able to make it to us during window of time.
This is working out very well, and we are able to continue to meet our customer and client needs.
Call us (603) 439-2603 or email rebecca@wondrousroots.org if you need further info.
Thank you, and be well!
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Listen Live Call in to talk 603-357-1290/866-357-1290
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Saturday April 4, 2020 - Noon to 1:00
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Come on up and say hello... We are open Monday through Friday 9:30 am to 6 pm!
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