Vitamin A modulates heart repairModulation of bone marrow haematopoietic stem cell activity as a therapeutic strategy after myocardial infarction: a preclinical study.
High relevance - potential therapies
We investigated the impact of vitamin A in treating heart disease, specifically after a myocardial infarction (MI). Our study focused on over 150 cardiac surgery patients, with a particular emphasis on the effects of vitamin A on bone marrow stem cells. We discovered that MI led to harmful changes in these stem cells and that vitamin A, specifically its metabolite 4-oxo-retinoic acid, helps reduce inflammation by calming the stem cells. This approach could improve heart function in the long run after an MI.
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Retinoic acid aids heart repairRetinoic acid released from self-assembling peptide activates cardiomyocyte proliferation and enhances repair of infarcted myocardium.
High relevance for heart therapy
We examined how retinoic acid (a form of vitamin A) could promote the repair of heart tissue after injury. Through the use of self-assembling peptides to deliver retinoic acid, we found that it effectively increased the proliferation of heart cells in rats. This treatment also boosted the expression of key genes associated with heart regeneration and improved heart function within four weeks. Overall, our findings suggest that retinoic acid might be a promising strategy to enhance the recovery of damaged heart tissue.
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We examined the connection between serum retinol levels, a marker for vitamin A, and long-term mortality over 30 years. Our analysis involved nearly 29,000 men and revealed that those with higher retinol levels had a 17-32% lower risk of dying from heart disease and other causes compared to those with lower levels.
Interestingly, this beneficial effect held true across various groups, regardless of smoking, drinking, or weight. Although higher retinol is linked to lower mortality, it's important to note that factors like smoking and diabetes played a minimal role in mediation through retinol levels.
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Vitamin A's role in heart healthVitamin A preserves cardiac energetic gene expression in a murine model of diet-induced obesity.
High relevance for understanding DCM
We explored how vitamin A influences heart health in mice with diet-induced obesity. Through a study comparing genetically altered mice with vitamin A deficiencies to normal mice fed a vitamin A-sufficient diet, we found that, despite vitamin A deficiency, the heart's structure, function, and energy production capabilities remained intact after 20 weeks.
Our findings revealed that vitamin A is crucial in maintaining heart-related gene expression linked to energy processes. While the results suggest vitamin A's significant role in preserving cardiac function, they did not indicate a direct benefit in reversing or preventing heart disease in this obesity model.
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We analyzed data from 7,341 adults aged 65 and older to see how various nutrients affect heart disease.
Our findings revealed that vitamin A, along with other nutrients, was connected with lower heart disease prevalence. Specifically, higher intake of vitamin A was associated with a 5% decrease in risk, among other beneficial effects we noted for different nutrients.
However, while there are some associations, it's crucial to understand that the study found no strong or direct causal relationship between vitamin A and heart disease prevention.
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