title: Oxidative stress and early atherosclerosis: novel antioxidant treatment.
abstract: Atherosclerotic lesions initiate in regions characterized by low shear stress and reduced activity of endothelial atheroprotective molecules such as nitric oxide, which is the key molecule managing vascular homeostasis. The generation of reactive oxygen species from the vascular endothelium is strongly related to various enzymes, such as xanthine oxidase, endothelial nitric oxide synthase and nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase. Several pharmaceutical agents, including angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptors blockers and statins, along with a variety of other agents, have demonstrated additional antioxidant properties beyond their principal role. Reports regarding the antioxidant role of vitamins present controversial results, especially those based on large scale studies. In addition, there is growing interest on the role of dietary flavonoids and their potential to improve endothelial function by modifying the oxidative stress status. However, the vascular-protective role of flavonoids and especially their antioxidant properties are still under investigation. Indeed, further research is required to establish the impact of the proposed new therapeutic strategies in atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, University of Athens Medical School, "Hippokration" Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tousoulis
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Psaltopoulou
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Androulakis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papaioannou
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oikonomou
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Synetos
authors.forename: Christodoulos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stefanadis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants