title: Mediterranean nutraceutical foods: Strategy to improve vascular ageing.
abstract: Ageing is characterized by a decline in all systemic functions. A greater susceptibility to apoptosis and senescence may contribute to proliferative and functional impairment of endothelial progenitor cells. They play an important role in neo-angiogenesis and endothelial repair. Vascular ageing is associated with changes in the structure and functions of vessels' wall. There are many possible causes of this damage. For sure, inflammation and oxidative stress play a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction, commonly attributed to a reduced availability of nitric oxide. Inflammageing, the chronic low-grade inflammation that characterizes elderly people, aggravates vascular pathology and provokes atherosclerosis, the major cardiovascular disease. Nutraceutical and molecular biology represent new insights in this field. In fact, the first could represent a possible treatment in the prevention or delay of vascular ageing; the second could offer new possible targets for potential therapeutic interventions. In this review, we pay attention on the causes of vascular ageing and on the effects of nutraceuticals on it.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: giuliabio@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Accardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: anna.aiello2903@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aiello
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: cmgambino@libero.it.
authors.forename: Caterina Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Gambino
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: claudiavirruso@hotmail.it.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Virruso
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: calogero.caruso@unipa.it.
authors.forename: Calogero
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Palermo, Corso Tukory 211, 90134 Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: giuseppina.candore@unipa.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Candore
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Endothelial progenitor cells; Inflammageing; Nutraceuticals; Vascular ageing