Anti-inflammatory Supplements

Two more studies on Inflamation and supplements mostly concerning cardiovascular health.

	L-Arginine Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Keywords:	CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE, INSULIN RESISTANCE, ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION, INFLAMMATION - L-Arginine
Reference:	"Oral l-arginine supplementation improves endothelial function and ameliorates insulin sensitivity and inflammation in cardiopathic nondiabetic patients after an aortocoronary bypass," Lucotti P, Monti L, et al, Metabolism, 2009 July 8; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Internal Medicine Department, Cardio-Diabetes Trials Unit, Scientific Institute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy. E-mail: piatti.piermarco.hsr.it ).
Summary:	In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 64 patients with cardiovascular disease who previously underwent autocoronary bypass, supplementation with l-arginine (6.4 g/d) for a period of 6 months (in 32 of the 64 patients found to have a non-diabetic response to an oral glucose load), was found to decrease asymmetric dimethylarginine levels, decrease indices of endothelial dysfunction, and increase cyclic guanosine monophosphate, l-arginine to asymmetric dimethylarginine ratio, and reactive hyperemia. In addition, increases in adiponectin and the insulin sensitive index and decreases in interleukin-6 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were also associated with l-arginine treatment. The authors conclude, "…insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation are important cardiovascular risk factors in coronary artery disease patients; and l-arginine seems to have anti-inflammatory and metabolic advantages in these patients." Omega-3 Fatty Acids Exert Anti-Inflammatory and Cardioprotective Effects in Hyperlipidemic Subjects Keywords: CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE, HYPERLIPIDEMIA, INFLAMMATION - Omega-3 Fatty Acids Reference: "Anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and plant sterols in hyperlipidemic individuals," Micallef MA, Garg ML, Atherosclerosis, 2009; 204(2): 476-82. (Address: Nutraceuticals Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia. E-mail: manohar.garg@newcastle.edu.au ). Summary: In a 3-week, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial involving 60 hyperlipidemic subjects, supplementation with omega-3 PUFAs (1.4 g/d) plus plant sterols (2 g/d) was found to reduce several markers of inflammation. C-reactive protein reduced by 39%, tumor necrosis factor-alpha reduced by 10%, interleukin-6 reduced by 10.7%, leukotriene B(4) reduced by 29.5%, and adiponectin increased by 29.5%. Overall cardiovascular disease risk was reduced by 22.6%. The authors conclude, "We have demonstrated, for the first time that dietary intervention with omega-3 PUFA and plant sterols reduces systemic inflammation in hyperlipidemic individuals. Furthermore, our results suggest that reducing inflammation provides a potential mechanism by which the combination of omega-3 PUFA and plant sterols are cardioprotective."