Micronutrient therapy
| Improve microcirculation and protect endothelia from oxidation | |
| Secondary plant substances, such as oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) grape seeds and pine bark extract pycnogenol®, increase NO synthesis and additionally have antioxidant effects. The gaseous neurotransmitter NO (nitric oxide) has a key function in regulating vascular tone and is also referred to as “endothelium-derived relaxing factor“. It causes a muscle relaxation at the receptors of the vascular muscles, resulting in vasodilatation. The amino acid L-arginine also improves blood flow through NO-mediated endothelial functions, inhibits platelet aggregation and reduces lipid peroxidation. Moreover, arginine also seems to be able to influence elevated blood pressure via renal mechanisms. |
|
| Inhibit thrombosis | |
| Tomato extract has antithrombotic effects on human platelets based on stabilization of platelet form by inhibition of thrombin-induced aggregation and inhibition of glycoprotein 2b/3a. Thromboxan- and arachidonic acid-induced blood coagulation is not significantly affected. |