Hormonal
Aging induces endothelial dysfunction primarily through reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability caused by oxidative stress (superoxide scavenging NO to form peroxynitrite) and increased arginase activity, which can be partially reversed by antioxidant therapy or arginase inhibition.
Maintaining vascular health in older age is possible by targeting oxidative stress. The paper highlights that antioxidant therapies (like Vitamin C+E+alpha-lipoic acid) and managing inflammation can improve endothelial function. Focus on lifestyle factors that reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, as these are key drivers of age-related vascular stiffness and dysfunction.
Aging is also associated with a reduction in the NO bioavailability, which is the result of the dynamic balance between its synthesis and degradation... enhanced NO degradation may be mostly due to excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxide anions (O2-) that quench NO hampering its functional activities.
Why this rating
The paper is a review citing multiple human and animal studies, including clinical trials of interventions like BH4 and antioxidant cocktails.
Source
Mechanisms Involved in the Aging-Induced Vascular Dysfunction
Mariam eEl Assar De La Fuente et al. · Frontiers in Physiology · 2012
DOI 10.3389/fphys.2012.00132
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