revasca patient information page 1 - Flipbook - Page 3
REVASCA™ PATIENT INFORMATION
— What is the Glycocalyx? —
The endothelial glycocalyx is a micro-thin, hair-like shield that protects the heart, arteries,
micro-circulation, and veins.1,2
In particular, a sugar-like compound called hyaluronan is very important for developing and
maintaining the endothelial glycocalyx.
Glycocalyx means “sweet husk” and was
described in 1963 as the “extracellular polysaccharide coating on cells”. 3
The endothelial glycocalyx is negatively
charged versus the positively charged red
blood cells flowing through the vessels – this
helps form a “gel” that prevents circulating
blood cells from touching the walls of the
vessels.
The endothelial glycocalyx is an important gatekeeper of vascular permeability, or the exchange
or gases (oxygen, CO2), nutrients and waste through the vessel, tissues and organ walls.
Factors that damage and degrade endothelial glycocalyx include: 4
•
Aging
•
Chronic stress
•
Poor diet – high carb, high sugar/ high
•
Chronic inflammation (metaflammation)
glycemic
•
Chronic and high levels of oxidative
•
Trauma based inflammation – including
surgery, injury
•
Lack or exercise OR over-exercising
stress such as with environmental
•
Genetics
contaminants like heavy metal intoxi-
•
Sepsis
cation, pesticides, smoking
•
GUT/microbiome disruption (dysbiosis)
•
Insulin resistance / T2D
and leaky GUT syndrome
•
Viral infections - including SARS-Cov-2
COVID-19)
Studies report that supporting and protecting the endothelial glycocalyx is a viable therapeutic target to slow down age-related vascular dysfunction.5 But how can we support this
important structure?