Dietary Licorice - Root Antioxidants Reduce Heart Diseases

A therosclerosis is related to inflammatory conditions, which are initiated by invasion of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (“the bad cholesterol”) into the artery wall. The early atherosclerotic lesion is characterized by the accumulation of cells loaded with cholesterol, which gain the appearance of foam cells. Elevated plasma levels of LDLcholesterol are major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, because this is associated with cholesterol deposits in the arterial wall, which lead to a blockage of blood flow to the heart and a consequent heart attack. However, beyond the quantity of the LDL-cholesterol, its quality is also an additional major risk factor for atherosclerosis. For instance, the oxidative stress to which the human body is constantly exposed, can modify LDL to form oxidized LDL (Ox-LDL). Oxidized LDL is taken up at an enhanced rate by cells of the arterial wall leading to a massive cholesterol accumulation in the arteries. Intervention to reduce the levels of LDL cholesterol in the blood, or to inhibit LDL oxidation are thus widely used in order to inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis, the major cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world.