Fat intake and cardiovascular response.
High dietary fat intake is a major risk factor for the development of obesity, which is frequently associated with diseases such as hypertension and diabetes and thus accelerated atherosclerosis. Angiotensin II and endothelin-1 are powerful growth factors and vasoconstrictors implicated in regulating vascular tone, vascular structure, and inflammation. Reduced bioactivity of nitric oxide and increased formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been associated with obesity and high dietary fat intake. This article reviews the effects of high-fat diet on vascular functional changes in rodents and humans. Changes include alterations in vasoconstrictor function and receptor expression, and modulators of endothelium-dependent vascular tone (eg, nitric oxide- or endothelium-dependent contracting factor-mediated responses). Novel vasodilator effects of ROS and the anatomic heterogeneity of vascular responses are discussed. The beneficial effects of vasoactive mediators on vascular function could play a role for susceptibility to obesity-dependent hypertension, which is present in many, but not all, obese patients.
Damjanovic
Marlen
M
Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin, Departement für Innere Medizin, Universitätsspital Zürich, Rämistrasse 100, 8091 Zürich, Switzerland.
Barton
Matthias
M
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002319:Cardiovascular System; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D012307:Risk Factors
D004041:Dietary Fats; D019332:Endothelin-1; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D000804:Angiotensin II; D009569:Nitric Oxide