One in every two deaths in the United States is caused by cardiovascular disease. Despite strong mechanistic links established between a diet rich in lipids and the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease, therapeutic advances have focused on reduction in either ingestion or synthesis of cholesterol, and reduction in dietary trans and saturated fatty acids and triglycerides. Even in the setting of aggressive high potency statin therapy and global cardiovascular risk reduction efforts, most clinical trials reveal a significant residual cardiovascular risk with, at best, only 30% reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events. There exists a significant unmet clinical need for identifying novel therapies for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease. This requires identification of additional contributory processes to cardiovascular disease pathogenesis, so that mechanism-based interventions may be developed. Endothelial dysfunction is a pathological state in which there is systemic inflammation of vascular endothelium with consequent expression of pro-vasoconstrictive mediators, thrombotic and atherogenic tendencies. Endothelial dysfunction precedes the development of atherosclerosis and portends an increased risk of future adverse cardiovascular events. Endothelial dysfunction, therefore, can serve as a "barometer" of future cardiovascular risk. Measurement of Flow-mediated dilation ( FMD) is widely accepted as a method to assess vascular endothelial function.
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change in baseline flow mediated dilation (FMD) after probiotic consumption
Timeframe: from baseline to 24 hours after consumption and approximately 7 days after consumption