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The heart is a strong muscle responsible for pumping blood around the body. Nutrients absorbed into the blood through the gut and oxygen picked up through the lungs are being transported around the body to feed the cells and organs, including the heart itself. Waste products from the cells including carbon dioxide are picked up by the blood and removed from the body. The waste products go through the liver and kidneys and then excreted through the urinary system or the digestive tract and the carbon dioxide is exhaled via the lungs. This work is done continuously. Regular exercise will make that heart muscle stronger and improve vascular health which in turn improves the heart s ability to pump the blood round the body effectively. Pulmonary circulation is via the lungs and systemic circulation is round the body. 3
There are 4 chambers in the heart The small and large chambers on the left side of the heart are separated from the small and large chambers on the right. The left side is responsible for systemic circulation while the right side is responsible for pulmonary circulation. The 2 upper chambers (Atria) are holding stations. The blood rests here while the various valves are closed behind it and the next set are opened. This is a one way system and there should be no backflow through the valves. The lubdub sound of the heartbeat is actually the sound of the valves closing. As the atrial walls contract, the blood is pushed into the large chambers (ventricles). The muscular walls of the ventricles are thicker and stronger than those of the atria because when they contract they force the blood out of the heart and along the various arteries to the lungs or the body so they have further to push the blood. 4
The Aorta is the major artery leaving the heart carrying freshly oxygenated blood and the very first arteries to branch from it are the coronary arteries. Coronary arteries supply the heart and branch off into smaller arteries and capillaries to ensure this hard-working muscle is well supplied. Obviously if there is an issue regarding the health and function of these blood vessels then it impacts on the supply of nutrients and oxygen to the heart muscle and ultimately its health and function. 5
Veins walls are thin and the pressure in them is lower so the blood flow back to the heart needs some assistance and this comes from the series of valves along the length of the veins to reduce any back-flow of blood. Arteries walls are thicker because they need to withstand the greater pressure exerted on them when the heart pumps and forces blood through them but they also need to be flexible and able to stretch with each pulse otherwise the increased pressure on the inner walls would damage them. 6
The muscle layer facilitates the constriction and dilation of the arteries as required Calcium is involved in muscle contraction so this facilitates vascular constriction and magnesium for muscle relaxation and aids vascular dilation. Chronic stress can deplete the magnesium levels in the body and this may impact on the ability for vasodilation which means a greater risk of higher blood pressure during stress. In addition, a lack of vitamin K2 can impact on the way calcium is metabolised in the muscle fibres so that instead of being utilised by the cells it is deposited in the muscle tissue causing a hardening and inflexibility of the artery wall in that area. Flexibility and strength is achieved by keeping the proteins in the muscle layer and connective tissue healthy however if blood pressure is high or there is potential for damage from negative compounds in the blood then the damage to the proteins in the layers of the inner walls can result in damage to the arteries. 7
Def Arteriosclerosis: Hardening and thickening of the walls of the arteries. Arteriosclerosis can occur because of fatty deposits on the inner lining of arteries (atherosclerosis), calcification of the wall of the arteries, or thickening of the muscular wall of the arteries from chronically elevated blood pressure (hypertension). Medicine.net 7
Cholesterol can become caught up on any tissue in the artery that is damaged or inflamed and adds to the narrowing of the artery as the deposit builds up. If cholesterol levels are too high and there is increased risk of oxidation then cholesterol levels may require addressing. Whether it s inflammation, cholesterol build up & oxidation, formation of blood clots or vasoconstriction due to tightening of the muscle layer, the effects can be systemic. 8
So what are the risk factors that can cause damage and inflammation to the blood vessels and put pressure on the heart? Smoking, which increases oxidative damage from the free radicals in the tobacco. Raised cholesterol is a problem if it becomes oxidised because it can build up and cause narrowing of the arteries which can reduce circulation and increase blood pressure High blood pressure can cause tears along the blood vessels causing inflammation and narrowing of the arteries and greater risk of cholesterol build up in those damaged areas. Diabetes can also lead to damaged vascular walls, in this case by glycation Stress can raise blood pressure so again increase the risk of vascular damage but also produce heart arrhythmias and cause constriction of the blood vessels and all this puts greater pressure on the heart. Stress also affects mood and that can lead to emotional eating, poor food choices and lack of exercise due to apathy which can lead to obesity Obesity can raise cholesterol levels, raise blood pressure and increase the risk of diabetes so this is a major concern for heart disease risk. 9
This is of particular concern when the weight is carried around the middle. People who are apple-shaped have a lower waist to hip ratio and abdominal fat holds a greater risk factor for cardiovascular health. Hip:waist ratio is a better indicator than BMI or Body Mass Index. 10
Lack of exercise is our final risk factor mentioned here. Exercise would burn off some of the stress hormones, increase metabolic rate so the risk of obesity would reduce, it would help maintain healthy blood sugar levels and exercise the heart muscle to make it stronger and better able to function The more of these factors you are exposed to, the greater the risk to heart health 11
A quick word about blood sugar control and why it is important for the vascular system. When you eat something sugary or refined carbs which convert to glucose quickly, blood sugar levels increase and insulin stimulates their use as a source of fuel as the first option. If blood sugars are surplus to the body s requirements at that time it will be stored in the liver in the form of glycogen. If sugar levels are still surplus to requirement they are stored as White Fat. In times of low blood sugar levels glucagon metabolises the glycogen and converts it back to glucose, releasing it into the blood stream. If cellular energy requirements are still not met, glucagon stimulates conversion of stored fat into fatty acids which can be burned as a fuel source But sometimes this system is slow in dealing with the excess sugars we have eaten and the sugars levels in the blood remain high....increasing the risk of glycation,..... 12
Diabetes was mentioned as a potential risk factor. Sometimes this system is slow in dealing with the excess sugars. Perhaps the intake is excessive or we are deficient in the nutrients needed for insulin production and activity, or perhaps our insulin receptors are not functioning effectively. These high sugar levels can directly attack proteins like collagen and elastin in the blood vessel walls and this is called glycation. The resulting damage causes stiff and inflexible blood vessel walls and an increased risk of cholesterol build up. Damaged walls become inflamed and cholesterol may be deposited. This can ultimately lead to increases in blood pressure, poor circulation and potentially greater pressure on the heart as it works to push the blood through those damaged blood vessels. 13
In addition to the risk factors we reviewed, raised Homocysteine can challenge vascular health, including the coronary arteries. Homocysteine is an intermediate compound in protein metabolism and it shouldn t be a problem as it is quickly metabolised if there are good levels of B6, B12 and folate. If homocysteine levels are allowed to rise it starts to cause damage to the vascular walls. That trio of B vitamins and the TMG (TriMethylGlycine) help convert Homocysteine quickly and can reduce the risk of it causing vascular damage. 14
Consider these areas when addressing possible supplements for heart health 15
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CoQ10 is an enzyme. It is fat soluble and has protective benefits for fatty tissues including nerves and blood fats but also helps protect the fat soluble nutrients. CoQ10 is manufactured in the cells and facilitates the production of ATP in the mitochondria but its cellular production can be blocked by some common medications.. Statins ACE inhibitors Beta blockers Calcium channel blockers The Contraceptive Pill Red Yeast Rice So supplementing with CoQ10 would be a good idea if taking any of these just to support the CoQ10 levels...however please remember that individuals on existing medication should always seek advice from their doctor / other health care practitioner before taking supplements 17
Where does CoQ-10 come in? protein fats and carbohydrates enter the body through our diet and are digested or broken down into their constituent parts -amino acids glucose and fatty acids which feed into the Krebs cycle in the cells mitochondria After the Krebs cycle comes the electron transport chain - where energy production is facilitated by CoQ10 along with B3 and iron All these pathways require nutrient support, particularly B vitamins & magnesium. Energy is produced as ATP an energy storage molecule The greatest production of ATP comes from fats 18
Within the electron transport chain, the COQ-10 works by cycling through its various forms. The most abundant form available in the cells at any one time is Ubiquinol. This cycle however is limited hence the need for new CoQ10 to be made or supplemented. 19
Ubiquinol however is difficult to stabilise as a supplement so Solgar Ubiquinol has patented stability which increases it s activity in the body but also gives twice the absorption rate of standard Ubiquinone. Solgar s exclusive NutriNano CoQ10 is the stable version of ubiquinone but it provides a patented delivery system which increases the absorption rate. The micelles which carry the Ubiquinone here are only 30nm in diameter - compared to approximately 3000nm in other forms this small micelle size enables the micelles to reach the absorption sites 20
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Fish oils provide those important omega 3 components EPA and DHA. Fatty acids are also the heart s preferred source of energy. Cardiac muscle has the highest concentration of mitochondria (cellular powerstations) per cell and it is here that those fatty acids are metabolised to produce the energy it requires. EPA & DHA have a broad support of the cardiovascular system by aiding circulation & working on inflammation so supplementing the diet would give greater benefits for heart health focus 22
Carnitine is essentially a shuttle bus, carrying fatty acids into the cells mitochondria so they can be burned as a source of energy. Solgar Carnitine complex has 4 forms of carnitine, 3 of which are patented. -2 of these are bound to amino acids, taurine and arginine, which enhances their application here because taurine and arginine support heart functions so these forms of carnitine will target the heart muscle. - gplc has enhanced absorption and utilisation providing a faster action for transporting fats into the cells and waste products out. 23
Red wine is considered to be one of the best dietary sources of resveratrol and reputed to be a key part of red wine s reported CV protective attributes however you would need to drink a bottle of wine daily to achieve appreciable amounts! The best way to ensure your resveratrol intake is supplementation. Solgar manufacture a 100mg and a 250mg Resveratrol which is sources from Japanese knotweed which is considerably more concentrated than red wine or red grape skins. Resveratrol supports vascular health by improving dilation and helping to reduce glycation damage. It also helps reduce damage to the heart muscle when oxygen levels are reduced e.g. during sport or if there is vascular damage. 24
28/07/2016 Summary Ubiquinol makes up the majority form found in the mitochondria. This would be the form of choice if optimum cardiovascular health is to be the goal but both products have superior absorption and bioavailability so NutriNano Q10 would make an excellent option. Carnitine is our shuttle bus, carrying fatty acids into the cells and the mitochondria so they can be metabolised as a source of energy. Fish oils support anti-inflammatory, circulatory and energy support - the triple strength product has the advantage of providing higher doses of EPA and DHA known for their support of the cardiovascular system Resveratrol supports vascular health through improving dilation and reducing glycation For internal training purposes only. 25
28/07/2016 D-Ribose is the backbone of the ATP molecule so energy production is dependent on Ribose levels. Supplementing with Ribose may improve the speed of ATP production especially in the heart and muscles (where it can be used immediately or stored). Phytosterols play a part in controlling blood cholesterol levels by block the absorption and reabsorption of cholesterol through the gut leaving it to be excreted. Homocysteine modulators contain TMG, B6, B12 and folic acid and all of these are methyl donors. Methylation of homocysteine reduces the potential damage it can cause to the vascular system (including triggering the production of free radicals). Vitamin K2 is required for the correct metabolism and placement of calcium in the soft tissues. Calcium is required for muscle contraction and is therefore vital to heart and vascular function however calcium may become lodged in the tissues incorrectly causing hardening of the vascular walls and leave the heart muscle short of a key nutrient for muscle function. MultiPlus with Cardio Health essentials is a broad and comprehensive multinutrient formula with a focus on heart health and contains some fish oils, COQ10 and resveratrol. Balance Rhodiola would be a particularly nice if stress is a concern. Rhodiola has a modulating effect on the hypothalamus so may play a part in reducing the oversensitivity which triggers that excess cortisol release and the range of nutrients in this combination product are supportive too. For internal training purposes only. 26
Thank you for being part of the Solgar training programme. 27