Specialists of the Research center of biotechnology at St. Michael’s Hospital (Canada) were able to prove that foods with a high content of unsaturated fats (e.g. olive oil) to protect from cardiovascular diseases. About it reported in a press release on MedicalXpress.
It is known that apolipoprotein A-IV (ApoA-IV) is a plasma protein, whose content in the body increases after a meal — helps prevent cardiovascular diseases. In the new work, the researchers showed that ApoA-IV is a factor depressing activity of platelets, which play a key role in pathological processes affecting the cardiovascular system.
It turned out that the apolipoprotein inhibits membrane protein glycoprotein IIb/IIIa (integrin αIIbβ3), involved in platelet aggregation. The latter promotes blood coagulation, but can also cause vascular occlusion and thrombosis, which is one of the main causes of diseases of the cardiovascular system and related mortality. ApoA-IV binds to integrin and does not allow him to attach to fibrinogen — a protein”bridge” that connects integrins in different cells with each other. This reduces the level of platelet aggregation.
ApoA-IV facilitates the bloodstream almost immediately after ingestion of food containing unsaturated fats. It is most active at night and least in the morning. According to scientists, this explains why attacks and strokes often happen after waking up. Future research should help to develop appropriate methods of treatment of cardiovascular diseases.