POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF FLAVONOIDS ON THE ETIOLOGY OF VASCULAR-DISEASE

Data from animal and epidemiological studies suggest that dietary flav onoids protect against the development of vascular disease. Despite th e Soars of attention on the ability of flavonoids to act as antioxidan ts and to alter endothelial cell eicosanoid production, a vast number of other mechanisms exist through which flavonoids could function to i nhibit the development of vascular disease in humans. Received here ar e six other-factors that call influence the development of vascular di sease in humans and the potential impact of flavonoids an each: adhesi on receptor expression, bacterial replication, ca,carbohydrate-induced AGE ((advanced glycation end product formation, estrogenic effects, p roteolytic enzymes, and viral replication. Rer Reviewed data suggest t hat if the total plasma flavonoid loan exceeds a few micromoles per li ter in viva, flavonoids will protect humans against vascular damage th at results from the aforementioned causes (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 19 98. .