Significance:
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide, which may be due to sedentary lifestyles with less physical activity and over nutrition as well as an increase in the aging population; however, the contribution of
pollutants, environmental chemicals, and nonessential metals to the increased and persistent CVDs needs more attention and investigation. Among environmental contaminant nonessential metals,
antimony has been less addressed. Recent Advances: Among environmental contaminant nonessential metals, several metals such as lead,
arsenic, and
cadmium have been associated with the increased risk of CVDs.
Antimony has been less addressed, but its potential link to CVDs is being gradually recognized. Critical Issues: Several epidemiological studies have revealed the significant deleterious effects of
antimony on the cardiovascular system in the absence or presence of other nonessential metals. There has been less focus on whether
antimony alone can contribute to the pathogenesis of CVDs and the proposed mechanisms of such possible effects. This review addresses this gap in knowledge by presenting the current available evidence that highlights the potential role of
antimony in the pathogenesis of CVDs, most likely via
antimony-mediated redox dyshomeostasis. Future Directions: More direct evidence from preclinical and mechanistic studies is urgently needed to evaluate the possible roles of
antimony in
mitochondrial dysfunction and epigenetic regulation in CVDs. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 38, 803-823.