Effect of glycocalyx-targeted therapy on vascular function in older adults: a randomized controlled trial.

Advancing age increases cardiovascular disease risk, in part, because of impaired glycocalyx thickness and endothelial dysfunction. Glycocalyx-targeted therapies, such as Endocalyx Pro, could improve both glycocalyx thickness and endothelial function in older adults; however, this has yet to be tested. We hypothesized that Endocalyx Pro supplementation would increase glycocalyx thickness and endothelial function in older adults.

Effect of acute heparin administration on glycocalyx thickness and endothelial function in healthy younger adults.

The endothelial glycocalyx is a dynamic, gel-like layer that is critical to normal vascular endothelial function. Heparin impairs the endothelial glycocalyx and reduces vascular endothelial function in a murine model; however, this has yet to be tested in healthy humans. We hypothesized that a single bolus dose of heparin would increase circulating glycocalyx components and decrease endothelial glycocalyx thickness resulting in blunted brachial artery vasodilation in healthy younger adults.