Session Speaker

Potential of Resveratrol in Preventing the Development of Heart Failure
Thomas Netticadan
Canada

Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a stage prior to the development of heart failure. Current treatments have proven inadequate, and mortality due to heart failure is on the rise. Accordingly, it is of paramount importance to explore new strategies.

We examined the effect of a plant-derived compound, resveratrol (present predominantly in grapes) on arresting the development of hypertrophy due to pressure overload (PO) or volume overload (VO) in rats, as well as on regressing hypertrophy after its development. The mechanisms underlying the effects of resveratrol were examined in hypertrophied rat cardiomyocytes.

Our results show that treatment with resveratrol not only arrested the development of PO induced hypertrophy and functional abnormalities in rats, it also regressed PO induced hypertrophy and functional abnormalities after its development. On the other hand, treatment with resveratrol was ineffective in arresting or regressing VO induced hypertrophy. Treatment with resveratrol also prevented the development of cardiomyocyte hypertrophy; a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor completely abolished the beneficial effects of resveratrol.

Our results suggest that resveratrol may have potential in treating patients with hypertension and aortic stenosis (clinical situations resulting in PO) who are progressing into the early stages of heart failure. The beneficial effects of resveratrol appear to be mediated by nitric oxide.

(This study is supported by funds from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada).