Benefits of Cardio-Plus® for Heart Health
Cardio-Plus
supports the cardiovascular system in a number of ways. This system is
responsible for circulating blood, nutrients, and oxygen to the entire
body. Keeping this system supported by essential vitamins through diet
is important in its functioning. Cardio-Plus is an excellent source of
niacin. Niacin has been shown to affect factors that contribute to
supporting cardiovascular health.6 Cardio-Plus is also an excellent source of vitamin B6. Maintaining adequate vitamin B6 concentrations is important for heart health due to its role in homocysteine breakdown.7 Low vitamin B6 has been associated with higher homocysteine levels.8,9
How Cardio-Plus Provides Ingredients with Antioxidant Activity
Cardio-Plus
provides a good source of antioxidant Vitamin C; one serving contains
15mg (17% DV) of vitamin C. Vitamin C is a particularly well-known
antioxidant with high reducing power.10 Vitamin C, Vitamin E (at 9% DV), and minerals such as selenium (at 5% DV) can carry out antioxidant activities.
How Cardio-Plus Supports Energy Metabolism*
Energy
metabolism is a vital process in the human body and is especially
important during exercise. B-vitamins — specifically riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), and vitamin B6 are required for metabolism of substrates that are used for energy production.1 Riboflavin (B2)
is a precursor for coenzymes that function as electron carriers in
reactions involved in energy production, including breakdown of
carbohydrates and metabolism of lipids.2,3 Cardio-Plus is an excellent source of riboflavin, niacin and vitamin B6. Niacin (B3)
is a precursor to reducing molecules (NAD+ and NADP+) that are involved
in energy production pathways, including glycolysis, the citric acid
cycle, and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.2 Vitamin B6, also known as pyridoxine, functions as a co-factor in many biochemical reactions in the body.4 Its active form, pyridoxal 5’-phosphate (PLP), is primarily involved in amino acid synthesis and breakdown.4 A PLP-dependent enzyme is also responsible for breakdown of stored glycogen to glucose to be used in energy metabolism.4
References:
1.
Institute of Medicine Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation
of Dietary Reference, I., its Panel on Folate, O.B.V. & Choline. The
National Academies Collection: Reports funded by National Institutes of
Health. in Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin,
Vitamin B(6), Folate, Vitamin B(12), Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and
Choline (National Academies Press (US) Copyright © 1998, National
Academy of Sciences., Washington (DC), 1998).
2.
Depeint, F., Bruce, W.R., Shangari, N., Mehta, R. & O'Brien, P.J.
Mitochondrial function and toxicity: role of the B vitamin family on
mitochondrial energy metabolism. Chemico-biological interactions 163,
94-112 (2006).
3. Pinto, J.T. & Zempleni, J. Riboflavin. Advances in nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) 7, 973-975 (2016).
4. Parra, M., Stahl, S. & Hellmann, H. Vitamin B₆ and Its Role in Cell Metabolism and Physiology. Cells 7(2018).
5. Ruparelia, N., Digby, J.E. & Choudhury, R.P. Current opinion in cardiology 26, 66-70 (2011).
6.
Kaplon, R.E., Gano, L.B. & Seals, D.R. Vascular endothelial
function and oxidative stress are related to dietary niacin intake among
healthy middle-aged and older adults. Journal of applied physiology
(Bethesda, Md. : 1985) 116, 156-163 (2014).
7. Vanuzzo, D., et al. European heart journal 28, 484-491 (2007).
8. Selhub, J., Jacques, P.F., Wilson, P.W., Rush, D. & Rosenberg, I.H. Jama 270, 2693-2698 (1993).
9.
Milani, R.V. & Lavie, C.J. Homocysteine: The Rubik's Cube of
Cardiovascular Risk Factors. Mayo Clinic proceedings 83, 1200-1202
(2008).
10. Institute of Medicine Panel on Dietary, A.
& Related, C. in Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E,
Selenium, and Carotenoids (National Academies Press (US) Copyright 2000
by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved., Washington
(DC), 2000).
