Your endothelium is vital to the functioning of all your organs and tissues.
The Mayo Clinic says,” When something goes wrong with your endothelial cells, there can be severe consequences in your body. That’s because these tiny cells play a huge role in keeping your body healthy and strong. It’s important to learn about your endothelium and its functions so you can do whatever possible to prevent endothelial damage.”
The endothelium is a single layer of cells, which line all your blood vessels and lymph system including your arteries, veins, capillaries and lymph capillaries.
According to the 4th edition of Molecular Biology of the Cell, “endothelial cells control the passage of materials—and the transit of white blood cells—into and out of the bloodstream. They have mechanoreceptors that allow them to sense the shear stress due to flow of blood over their surface; by signaling this information to the surrounding cells, they enable the blood vessel to adapt its diameter and wall thickness to suit the blood flow. Endothelial cells also mediate rapid responses to neural signals for blood vessel dilation, by releasing the gas Nitric Oxide to make smooth muscle relax in the vessel wall.”
Studies have shown that various factors can lead to damage/trauma of the endothelium, including inflammatory reactions, physical stimulation, infection, trauma, chemical poisons, related diseases, aging, and a deficiency of Vitamin D.
The 2013 study in the International Journal of Biology Science states, “Endothelial dysfunction is thought to play a major role in the development of atherosclerosis, angiogenesis in cancer, vascular leakage, infectious diseases, and stroke.” Injury to the endothelium activates the coagulation system facilitating the formation of thrombi (blood clots). Patients with hypertension as well as diabetes invariably show impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation.
The vascular endothelium is the interface between the blood and vascular smooth muscle in arteries. It is easily damaged by oxidative stress.
Numerous clinical studies suggest COVID-19 infection is a significant contributor to damage and dysfunction of the endothelial lining. Inflammation and blood clot formation result in potential serious short- and long-term complications.
A study published in the June 2022 Cardiovascular Drugs & Therapy suggests, “The virus enters into the organism via its interaction with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2-receptor that is present prominently in the alveoli, but also in endothelial cells, which can be directly infected by the virus. Cytokine release syndrome can also drive endothelial damage independently. Consequently, a distinctive feature of SARS-CoV-2 infection is vascular harm, with severe endothelial injury, widespread thrombosis, microangiopathy, and neo-angiogenesis in response to endothelial damage. Therefore, endothelial dysfunction seems to be the pathophysiological substrate for severe COVID-19 complications. Biomarkers of endothelial injury could constitute strong indicators of disease progression and severity. In addition, the endothelium could represent a very attractive target to both prevent and treat these complications.”
Keeping your endothelium healthy:
Eat foods rich in antioxidants including, whole grains like oatmeal and brown rice, dark green vegetables, fresh low sugar fruits, red and yellow bell peppers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes. Eliminate as many toxins as possible particularly those you are exposed to daily. Cut sugar consumption. Get quality sleep and decrease stress as much as possible.
Include the following supplements to your daily routine.
CoEnzyme Q10: Mayoclinic.org states that CoQ10, “is an antioxidant that your body produces naturally. Your cells use CoQ10 for growth and maintenance. Levels of CoQ10 in your body decrease as you age. CoQ10 levels have also been found to be lower in people with certain conditions, such as heart disease.” Risks associated with CoQ10 are minor, even at doses as high as 1800 mg according to previous studies.
Published in the April 2012 journal Atherosclerosis researchers concluded, “Coenzyme Q10 supplementation is associated with significant improvement in endothelial function. The current study supports a role for CoQ10 supplementation in patients with endothelial dysfunction.”
Resveratrol (RSV), a phytoalexin, is found in the skin of red grapes, but you can also find it in peanuts, red wine, berries, and other foods and berries. Numerous studies have shownResveratrol to prevent endothelial dysfunction and reduce diabetic vascular complications and the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Preclinical studies show that trans-resveratrol can enhance nitric oxide bioavailability, thereby increasing endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Resveratrol has been found to display antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifibrotic, and cardioprotective properties. Resveratrol reduces platelet aggregation, induces vasorelaxation, limits endothelial activation, and modulates lipid and lipoprotein metabolism.
Aged Garlic Extract (Kyolic® AGE™) is a form of organically grown garlic created using a proprietary aging process. Kyolic garlic is harvested at its peak, then sliced and naturally aged for up to 20 months, unheated. This increases the garlic’s antioxidant potential and converts harsh and unstable organosulfur compounds into the odorless, non-irritating, and bioavailable compounds that are responsible for AGE’s numerous health benefits.
The study titled “Beneficial effects of Aged Garlic Extract and Coenzyme Q10 on vascular elasticity and endothelial function: The FAITH randomized clinical trial” (published January 29, 2013 NUTRITION) concluded: “ The combination of Aged Garlic Extract (AGE) and CoQ10 was independently associated with significant beneficial effects on vascular elasticity and endothelial function in firefighters with high occupational stress, highlighting the important role of AGE and CoQ10 in atherosclerotic prevention of such individuals.
Research from the NIH Library, a study published in the February 19 2020 journal Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine reports, “On the whole, this study demonstrates that Aged Garlic Extract (AGE) has a positive impact on endothelial function in patients with Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) and may play a role in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Keeping your endothelium healthy is a key component to keeping the rest of you healthy! Please pass along this information to family and friends. Listen to Holistic Healthline radio on holistichealthline.com
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Jane Jansen Holistic Practitioner
Host Holistic Healthline Radio