Inflammation is part of our normal immune response, being important in preventing and fighting infections. However, an inflammatory response that is too strong or lasts too long can lead to tissue damage. Normally, our body generates a special counter-reaction that ensures that this inflammation stops in time: "the resolution of inflammation".

Resolution of inflammation ensures not only that the inflammation "just stops" but is also important for the repair of the tissue at the inflammation site. Studies in humans have shown that persistent, low-grade inflammatory responses play a role in causing damage to the heart and blood vessels. This damage is a major underlying problem in most cardiovascular diseases. Anti-inflammatory medication can lower the risk, but inhibiting inflammatory responses throughout the body also compromises the beneficial effects of inflammation. Therefore, it is desirable not to focus so much on preventing inflammation, but especially on stimulating resolution, for restoring the balance in the tissues after damage. Resolution is a highly organised process involving many players (substances), termed Specialised Pro-resolving Mediators (SPMs).

 Experiments in animals show that boosting resolution can prevent various types of cardiovascular disease. In fact, it can improve various cardiovascular functions, even with existing cardiovascular disease. Despite these promising results, very little is currently known about the role of inflammation resolution in humans, nor about its effect in cardiovascular disease. The aim of RESPIN-VAR is to investigate in humans how important the resolution of inflammation is for the prevention and repair of cardiovascular damage. We will investigate whether a dietary supplement that stimulates SPMs-production leads to an improvement in the function of vessels.

 We will involve future users of such supplements, to get clear ideas about the confidence they have in such supplements and the preconditions for using them