Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Disease: Implication of Gender and Age

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发表日期：

2024年

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Mia Karam,
Maha M. Itani,
Marwa Faraj,
Aneese A. Jaffa,
Joseph Jelwan,
Kawthar Sharaf Aldeen,
Ayad A. Jaffa

摘要

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) present a significant public health burden globally, encompassing a wide range of pathologies that affect the heart and blood vessels. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have long been recognized as double-edged swords in biological systems. Maintaining balanced levels of metabolic ROS through diverse physiological pathways contributes to cellular homeostasis. Disruption of this balance, resulting from either overproduction of ROS or insufficient antioxidant defense mechanisms, has been closely linked to CVDs, particularly myocardial infarction (MI) and atherosclerosis. In addition, the onset and progression of ROS-induced CVDs is gender driven. Different hormonal levels in males and females are considered potential players in the induction of oxidative stress–related CVDs, especially MI and atherosclerosis. Pregnancy, lactation, and menopause among females may also protect or expose them to ROS-induced CVDs. Additionally, based on the oxidative stress theory of aging, oxidative stress is also involved in different age-related diseases. Age-associated accumulation of ROS impairs the activity of vital biomolecules and organelles, leading to various diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and neurological disorders. Therefore, when considering the significant impact of oxidative stress on the development of numerous clinical conditions and aging, antioxidant therapy is shown to hold the potential to halt the progression of several diseases. General therapies, including lifestyle alterations, exogenous supplementation of antioxidants, and endogenous antioxidant enhancements, showed decreased ROS production. However, additional research is required to assess the actual effectiveness of these therapeutic interventions. In this book chapter, we provide a comprehensive examination of ROS-induced CVDs in the context of gender disparities and aging and discuss the potential of antioxidant therapies as antiaging interventions.