3 replies to this topic

[opales]

Side effects of ACE inhibition include anemia, hair loss and
exacerbation of chronic pain (ACE degrades substance P and bradykinin).

Yakugaku Zasshi. 2006 Jan;126(1):37-42. Related Articles, Links
    Click here to read
    Interactions between carnosine and captopril on free radical
scavenging activity and angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in vitro.

    Nakagawa K, Ueno A, Nishikawa Y.

    Department of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Home Economics, Kyoto
Women's University, Japan.

    Interactions between carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine), being
plentiful in skeletal muscles and neuronal tissues, and captopril, a
widely used angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, were examined
concerning free radical scavenging activity and ACE activity in vitro.
Not only captopril, but also carnosine, at concentrations less than
those ordinarily found in muscles and neuronal tissues, significantly
scavenged 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) (ABTS)
radical cations, and inhibited ACE activity. Cupric ions reversed the
ABTS scavenging activity of carnosine and captopril, whereas cupric ions
strengthened the inhibitory action of carnosine on ACE activity. In
contrast, cupric ions antagonized the inhibition of ACE activity induced
by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, indicating that the inhibitory
effect of carnosine on ACE activity is not related to the chelating
action of carnosine. On the other hand, carnosine and captopril
synergistically enhanced the free radical scavenging activity, but not
the inhibitory effect on the ACE activity. These data suggest that
carnosine in its concurrent use with captopril could act as a beneficial
free radical scavenger, with less danger of overdose, in the inhibition
of ACE activity.

Atherosclerosis. 2001 Sep;158(1):195-8.
Pomegranate juice consumption inhibits serum angiotensin
converting enzyme activity and reduces systolic blood pressure.
  Consumption of pomegranate juice which is rich in tannins,
possess anti-atherosclerotic properties which could be related to
its potent anti-oxidative characteristics. As some antioxidants
were recently shown to reduce blood pressure, we studied the
effect of pomegranate juice consumption (50 ml, 1.5mmol of total
polyphenols per day, for 2 weeks) by hypertensive patients on
their blood pressure and on serum angiotensin converting enzyme
(ACE) activity. A 36% decrement in serum ACE activity and a 5%
reduction in systolic blood pressure were noted. Similar
dose-dependent inhibitory effect (31%) of pomegranate juice on
serum ACE activity was observed also in vitro. As reduction in
serum ACE activity, even with no decrement in blood pressure,
was previously shown to attenuate atherosclerosis, pomegranate
juice can offer a wide protection against cardiovascular diseases
which could be related to its inhibitory effect on oxidative
stress and on serum ACE activity.

[opales]

ACEs have btw been purported to have central role in verteberate aging

http://www.genomedic...ophysiology.pdf

Curr Top Med Chem. 2004;4(13):1433-54.  Related Articles, Links
    Click here to read
    The central role of angiotensin I-converting enzyme in vertebrate pathophysiology.

    Moskowitz DW, Johnson FE.

    GenoMed, Inc., 909 S. Taylor, Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, USA. dwmoskowitz@genomedics.com

    Genomic epidemiologic data, increasingly supported by clinical outcomes results, strongly suggest that overactivity of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) may underlie most age-related diseases. Angiotensin II, the main product of ACE, is a pleiotropic hormone, capable of serving as a neurotransmitter, growth factor, angiogenesis factor, vasoconstrictor, pro-thrombotic agent, and cytokine. So it is perhaps not surprising that the ACE D/D genotype is associated with several major psychiatric diseases, most cancers except prostate cancer (where the D/D genotype is actually protective), most cardiovascular diseases, most autoimmune diseases, and even infectious diseases like tuberculosis and HIV. In a preliminary study, angiotensin II blockade appeared to hasten recovery from West Nile virus encephalitis; it may be equally useful in SARS. The ACE gene underwent duplication at the origin of Chordata, just before the "Cambrian Explosion" in the number of species. The ancestral, unduplicated form of ACE is still expressed during the terminal differentiation of human spermatocytes, suggesting a critical role in reproduction. The crystal structure of testicular ACE (tACE) was recently published. Computer modeling suggests that tACE may be activated by both mechanical forces and reducing agents. The duplicated form of ACE (somatic ACE, sACE) is expressed in areas of high fluid flow. sACE may auto-dimerize via a novel protein motif, the "disulfide zipper." The sACE dimer is predicted to have higher catalytic efficiency and redox resistance than tACE.

I am not just sure whether one should take well researched ACE inhibitors instead of promising but still in their initial stages of drug testing cycles supplements like carnosine or and esp. pomegranate.

Wikipedia on ACE inihibitors, note that the adverse effects and drug interactions should probably apply to carnosine and pomegranate too.

http://en.wikipedia....i/ACE_inhibitor

Adverse effects [of ACE inihibitors]

Common adverse drug reactions (≥1% of patients) include: hypotension, cough, hyperkalemia, headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, renal impairment.[1]

A persistent dry cough is a relatively common adverse effect believed to be associated with the increases in bradykinin levels produced by ACE inhibitors, although the role of bradykinin in producing these symptoms remains disputed by some authors.[2] Patients who experience this cough are often switched to angiotensin II receptor antagonists.

Rash and taste disturbances, infrequent with most ACE inhibitors, are more prevalent in captopril and is attributed to its sulfhydryl moiety. This has led to decreased use of captopril in clinical setting, although it is still used in scintigraphy of the kidney.

Renal impairment is a significant adverse effect of all ACE inhibitors, and is associated with their effect on angiotensin II-mediated homeostatic functions such as renal bloodflow. ACE inhibitors can induce or exacerbate renal impairment in patients with renal artery stenosis. This is especially a problem if the patient is also concomitantly taking an NSAID and a diuretic - the so-called "triple whammy" effect - such patients are at very high risk of developing renal failure. [3]

Some patients develop angioedema due to increased bradykinin levels. There appears to be a genetic predisposition towards this adverse effect in patients who degrade bradykinin slower than average.[4]

[health_nutty]

Very interesting. I add a pomagranite blueberry juice blend in my smoothie every morning. It's the only juice I consume.

[spacetime]

Carnosine has poor oral bioavailability so I'm not sure how potent an ace inhibitor it would be. ACE inhibitors have many benefits that I believe outweigh any negs. How potent pom and carno are at ACE inhibition is questionable and probably only moderte at best. Carno can prevent Advaced Glycation Endproducts and can help buffer H+ ions in muscle thus delaying fatigue. Pom contains ellagic acid which may have anti-carcinogenic effects due to anti-ox properties. I think the benefits of both substances far outweigh any potential negs and see little reason to discontinue use.