Carlos Recarte García-Andrade

Estudio in vitro sobre los efectos de las estatinas en las curvas de crecimiento celular y su reversión con mevalonato

HMG-CoA-Reductase inhibitors, also known as statins, are currently the most powerful cholesterol-lowering drugs available on the market. Clinical trials and experimental evidence suggest that statins have heavy anti-atherosclerotic effects. These are in part consequence of lipid lowering but also result from pleiotropic actions of the drugs. These so-called pleiotropic properties affect various aspects of cell function, inflammation, coagulation, and vasomotor activity. These effects are mediated either indirectly through LDL-c reduction or via a direct effect on cellular functions. Although many of the pleiotropic properties of statins may be a class effect, some may be unique to certain agents and account for differences in their pharmacological activity. So, although statins typically have similar effects on LDL-c levels, differences in chemical structure and pharmacokinetic profile can lead to variations in pleiotropic effects. In this paper we analize the in vitro effects of different statins over different cell lines from cells implicated in atherosclerotic process: endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and vascular muscular cells. In relation with our results we can proof that the effects of different dosis of different statins provides singular effects over growth curves of different cellular lines, a despite of a class-dependent effects. So, pleiotropic effects and its reversibility with mevalonate are different according with the molecule and the dosis.

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Dietary Patterns

Cardiovascular diseases, first cause of morbility and mortality in developed countries, are influenced by nutritional habits. The aim of our study, DORICA, is to identify the most frequent dietary patterns in the Occidentalized societies that contribute to the cardiovascular risk and to establish how they influence in the health of the population. For that purpose we made a transversal study taking aleatory samples from different Spanish regions from 1990 until 2000. We identified three patterns: high-protein one, Mediterranean diet and unbalanced diet. The first one is the most prevalent among men, active smokers and young individuals and is associated with obesity and hypercholesterolemia. People that followed the unbalanced diet had a mean of two cardiovascular risk factors. Most of the individuals from the Mediterranean pattern had a high cultural and socioeconomic level, low index of cholesterol and practiced more physical activity but this group had the highest proportion of members suffering from hypertension.

The Mediterranean Diet: A Combination of Beneficial Elements for Cardiovascular Disease

Our diet plays an essential role in both the prevention and the natural history of cardiovascular disease. Recent population studies have shown that several foods (e.g., oily fish, fruit and vegetables, garlic, and fiber) have a clearly cardioprotective effect and should be consumed by patients at risk of vascular disease. In other foods, this effect is found alongside properties such as high energy content (eg, nuts or olive oil). Some foods are potential causes of organ damage. Such is the case of alcohol, which should be consumed in moderation. Prevention and treatment of disease should take into account appropriate amounts for daily consumption.