Caloric restriction and cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease is a main cause of morbidity and a leading cause of death of the elderly in Western societies. It is widely accepted that the dietary regimen known as caloric restriction, undernutrition without malnutrition, delays the onset of aging and extends lifespan in laboratory animal models. Evidence supporting the role of caloric restriction intervening in the cardiovascular aging process by preventing the development of cardiovascular disease is presented in detail in this review. The theme that emerges from this overview is that neuroendocrine factors induced by caloric restriction attenuate age-related reactive oxygen species (ROS) overproduction and prevent inflammatory phenotypic alterations in the cardiovascular system. Also discussed are some of the possible caloric restriction-induced cellular mechanisms by which age-related vascular oxidative stress and inflammation can be delayed or reversed thereby improving cardiovascular health in the elderly.