The Emerging Role of Nutraceuticals in Cardiovascular Calcification: Evidence from Preclinical and Clinical Studies

Abstract

Cardiovascular calcification is the ectopic deposition of calcium-phosphate crystals within the arterial wall and the aortic valve leaflets. This pathological process leads to increased vascular stiffness, reduced arterial elasticity, and aortic valve stenosis, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Although cardiovascular calcification is an increasing health care burden, to date no medical therapies have been approved for treating or preventing it. Considering the current lack of therapeutic strategies and the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular calcification, the investigation of some nutraceuticals to prevent this pathological condition has become prevalent in recent years. Recent preclinical and clinical studies evaluated the potential anti-calcific role of nutraceuticals (including magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin K, and phytate) in the progression of vascular calcification, providing evidence for their dietary supplementation, especially in high-risk populations. The present review summarizes the current knowledge and latest advances for nutraceuticals with the most relevant preclinical and clinical data, including magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin K, and phytate. Their supplementation might be recommended as a cost-effective strategy to avoid nutritional deficiency and to prevent or treat cardiovascular calcification. However, the optimal dose of nutraceuticals has not been identified and large interventional trials are warranted to support their protective effects on cardiovascular disease.

Phytates as a natural source for health promotion: A critical evaluation of clinical trials

“…The obtained results clearly showed an inverse correlation between urinary phytate content and mitral annulus calcification, thus suggesting that the consumption of phytate-rich food may help to prevent cardiovascular calcification evolution (Fernández-Palomeque et al (2015). The effects of oral supplementation with different nutrients (magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin K) including phytate were also recently assessed in patients with calcific aortic valve stenosis but the results of the study, despite promise (Vucenik, 2019), have not yet been fully disclosed (Donato et al, 2021).…”

Vascular calcification inhibitors and cardiovascular events in peritoneal dialysis patients

“…Phytate is in the structure of myo-inositol hexaphosphate and is found in unprocessed foods, especially grains and legumes [86]. The physiological phytate level depends on dietary intake rather than endogenous synthesis [86].…”

“…SNF472 is the hexasodium salt of Phytate (myo-inositol hexaphosphate). The developed parenteral phytate has been shown to decelerate and reduce ectopic calcification in many studies conducted in cell culture, on rats, and on healthy volunteers and volunteer HD patients [86,88]. No studies have been done on phytate in PD patients.…”

Bisphosphonates as Potential Inhibitors of Calcification in Bioprosthetic Heart Valves (Review)

“…Histological examination of the leaflets demonstrated a significant reduction in the area of calcium lesions by almost 40% in the group treated with Zoledronate, compared with the control group. Despite good results, this technique is rather complicated, and most authors still recommend the systemic use of BPs in the clinical treatment of aortic stenosis and aortic valve calcification [103][104][105][106].…”