Impaired forearm blood flow and vasodilator reserve in healthy postmenopausal women

Vinegar Intake Enhances Flow-Mediated VasodilatationviaUpregulation of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Activity

“…Postmenopausal status is considered to be a condition associated with a decline in flow-induced dilatation. [21][22][23][24][25] In addition, Ushiroyama et al (2005) reported reduced blood vessel extensibility in women who were excessively sensitive to cold. 26) Hence we selected postmenopausal women with excessive sensitivity to cold as subjects who had reduced blood vessel extensibility in this pilot study.…”

“…Twelve postmenopausal females who were healthy but excessively sensitive to cold were enrolled in this clinical study, because their flow-mediated vasodilation was thought to be blunted by an imbalance of female hormones. 21,22) Postmenopausal women have vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes/flushes, cold hands and feet (''cold flushes'' or ''cold syndrome''), night sweats, palpitations, vertigo, headaches, or lower back pain, most likely due to a disruption in pathways modulated by female hormones. Estrogen, by inducing the activity of eNOS, increases NO production and has a favorable effect on arterial vasomotility.…”

Menopause, Estrogens, and Endothelial Dysfunction: Current Concepts

“…27,[40][41][42] The actions of endogenous estrogens on the cardiovascular system can be mediated directly on the vessels or indirectly through the modulation of cardiovascular risk factors, as well as on the lipid profile (reduction of total cholesterol and LDL, increase in HDL), as already described more than 20 years ago. 7 More recently, studies have also demonstrated an antioxidant effect by estrogen, reducing LDL oxidation in vivo and in vitro.…”

“…43 The direct effects of estrogen on the vascular system and which modulate the vascular tonus comprise 1) acute vasodilatation, increasing the synthesis and bioactivity of nitric oxide; 44,45 2) long-term modulation of vascular tonus, regulating the production of prostaglandins and expression of eNOS and the endothelin gene 46 ; 3) inhibition of endothelin-induced vasoconstriction 47 ; and 4) inhibition of sympathetic activity. 27 In addition to these actions on the vascular tonus, estrogen exerts an antiproliferative action on the vascular smooth layer. 48 Also, it appears to have a major role in vascular remodeling, inhibiting the proliferation of the inner layer after injury 49 and increasing the expression of contractile proteins in the myocardium.…”

Acute Myocardial Infarction in Women

“…The complex mechanisms by which estrogen influences CHD risk are incompletely understood; however, direct effects of estrogen on the vascular system include increased release of nitric oxide leading to vasodilation, 50,51 regulation of prostaglandin production, 52 and inhibition of smooth muscle proliferation. 53 Population studies have shown that estrogen depletion at menopause increases endothelial dysfunction and lipid deposition in the vasculature, which can precipitate the development of atherosclerosis over time. 54,55 However, despite the cardioprotective effects of endogenous estrogen, studies evaluating exogenous estrogen hormone therapy for the primary prevention of CHD in postmenopausal women have been convincingly negative.…”