title: Flavonoids: antioxidants against atherosclerosis.
abstract: Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between excessive formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or reactive nitrogen species and limited antioxidant defences. Endothelium and nitric oxide (NO) are key regulators of vascular health. NO bioavailability is modulated by ROS that degrade NO, uncouple NO synthase, and inhibit synthesis. Cardiovascular risk conditions contribute to oxidative stress, causing an imbalance between NO and ROS, with a relative decrease in NO bioavailability. Dietary flavonoids represent a range of polyphenolic compounds naturally occurring in plant foods. Flavonoids are potentially involved in cardiovascular prevention mainly by decreasing oxidative stress and increasing NO bioavailability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Public Health, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, 67100 Italy. davide.grassi@cc.univaq.it
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: Giovambattista
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Desideri
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferri
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005502:Food; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005419:Flavonoids; D059808:Polyphenols; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D009569:Nitric Oxide