The alteration of certain minerals plays an important role in cardiovascular function, as Dr. Karl T. Weber explained during his lecture at visit to research center Applied Medicine (CIMA) of the University of Navarra. The Full Professor and director of the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of Tennessee (USA) pointed out that "deficiency of selenium, zinc, magnesium and calcium can accelerate heart failure. Likewise, vitamin D deficiency may be implicated in the development of cardiovascular problems".

Deficiency of these macronutrients, which are substances present in the per diem expenses, must be compensated by supplements. "It seems that the solution involves administering a combination of several of these minerals. At present, one of our lines of research is trying to establish what dose is necessary to control heart failure."

Along with the American expert, Dr. Juan Carlos Kaski, Full Professor and director of the research center on Cardiovascular Biology at St. George's Hospital in London (UK), also visited the area on Cardiovascular Sciences at CIMA . His research field studies the factors that lead to the acceleration of cardiovascular disease. He is particularly interested in inflammatory mechanisms as a cause of the problem. "We have seen that the risk factors we know about - smoking, hypertension, obesity, diabetes - lead to increased inflammatory activity. As a consequence, the vascular wall is damaged and causes the training of atherosclerosis plaques, which is the cause of cardiovascular disease. It is a widespread phenomenon that affects different levels: not only the coronary arteries, but also the vessels of the brain, the carotid arteries, the kidney, the aorta, etc. I have been able to see that Dr. Javier Díez's group at CIMA is developing very interesting projects in this field."

The lines of research on cardiovascular disease are aimed at understanding the causes by which risk factors cause inflammation and how these mechanisms are activated. Dr. Kaski noted that "we have the advantage that risk factors are preventable. However, our lifestyle continues to be marked by an inadequate per diem expenses , lack of physical exercise, stress, etc. Therefore, it is essential to act on the real mechanism that causes the problem, which will allow us to establish a more appropriate treatment".

During their visit visit to CIMA , Drs. Kaski and Weber learned about the lines of work of the area of Cardiovascular Sciences and highlighted "the excellent quality of the research being developed. When a medical problem is identified, it is important to have people with innovative ideas, who investigate the causes and try to find solutions. All of this will benefit the patient.