Dietary Phytochemicals in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and Management: A Comprehensive Review.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide and a major public health issue. According to recent World Health Organization (WHO) estimates, CVD causes approximately 17.9 million deaths annually, accounting for 32% of global mortality. Prevention strategies that are dependent on dietary and lifestyle changes are becoming increasingly popular despite advances in pharmaceutical treatments. There has been a growing interest in phytochemicals and bioactive compounds in plants, as well as their potential to aid cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, there is no comprehensive synthesis of their mechanisms, clinical relevance, and bioavailability. This review attempted to fill this gap by evaluating the therapeutic value of phytochemicals for the prevention and management of CVD. Dietary sources and classifications of cardioprotective phytochemicals, including phytosterols, carotenoids, alkaloids, and polyphenols, are extensively discussed in this review. The article goes in-depth on how they act through many different functions, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, lipid-modulating, and endothelial-protective activities. Beyond describing the relationship between phytochemicals and broader dietary trends and lifestyle patterns, this article addresses their influences on bioavailability, including food matrix effects and gut microbiota. This review highlights the therapeutic significance of phytochemicals and their possible incorporation into standard treatments based on epidemiological, clinical, and mechanistic studies. Finally, this highlighted the need for future studies to fully exploit phytochemicals in the prevention and treatment of CVD, as well as the current issues in this regard.