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Atherosclerosis
What is Atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is the process of the hardening of an artery due to the build-up of cholesterol-containing plaque. Atherosclerosis is responsible for coronary artery disease - the leading cause of death in America - and many cases of stroke. All together, atherosclerosis is responsible for at least forty-three percent of all deaths in the United States.
What are the signs and symptoms of atherosclerosis?
Atherosclerosis is often referred to as the "silent killer" because the first symptom or sign in many cases is a fatal heart attack or stroke. Most people with significant atherosclerosis have a history of elevated cholesterol levels and may also experience angina.
What causes atherosclerosis?
The initial step in the development of atherosclerosis is damage to the lining of an artery. This damage is usually the result of free radicals (highly reactive toxic chemicals) and/or inflammation. Once the artery lining has been damaged, the site of injury attracts monocytes (large white blood cells) and platelets (small blood cells involved in the formation of blood clots) adhere to the damaged area, where they release growth factors that stimulate plaque formation and the accumulation of fat and cholesterol deposits.
Reducing the risk of heart disease and strokes involves reducing-and when possible eliminating-various risk factors associated with premature death due to these conditions. The major risk factors are
- Smoking
- Elevated blood cholesterol levels
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity
If two or more of these major factors apply to you, your risk increases significantly (see Table 1). For example, if you smoke, have high cholesterol, and have high blood pressure, you are more than 700 times likelier to have heart disease - and you will probably die twenty to thirty years sooner - than someone without any of these factors.
Table - The More Major Risk Factors Present the Greater the Risk
| Condition |
Increased Risk of Heart Disease |
| Presence of 1 major risk factor |
30% |
| High cholesterol + high blood pressure |
300% |
| High cholesterol + smoking |
350% |
| High blood pressure + smoking |
350% |
| Smoking + high blood pressure + high cholesterol |
720% |
In addition there are several other risk factors that have been shown in some studies to be even more important than to the so-called major risk factors. So, in other words the following factors are either major risk factors or perhaps even more important than the recognized major risk factors.
- Elevations of markers of silent inflammation like C-reactive protein and fibrinogen.
- Low levels of omega-3 fatty acids
- Low dietary antioxidant status
- Low levels of magnesium and potassium
- Low levels of folic acid leading to elevations in homocysteine
What dietary factors are important in atherosclerosis?
Dietary recommendations to reduce the risk for atherosclerosis:
- It centers on an abundance of plant food, including fruit, vegetables, breads, pasta, potatoes, beans, nuts, and seeds.
- Foods are minimally processed and there is a focus on seasonally fresh and locally grown foods.
- Fresh fruit is the typical daily dessert, with sweets containing concentrated sugars or honey consumed a few times per week at the most.
- Dairy products, principally cheese and yogurt, are consumed daily in low to moderate amounts and in low fat varieties
- Fish is a consumed on a regular basis.
- Poultry and eggs are consumed in moderate amounts, about 1-to-4 times weekly, or not at all.
- Red meat is consumed in small, infrequent amounts.
- Olive oil is the principal source of fat.
- Wine is consumed in low to moderate amounts, normally with meals.
The two components of the Mediterranean diet that have received a lot of attention is red wine and olive oil. Red wine is thought to be responsible for the "French paradox" a term used to explain why the French consume more saturated fat than Americans, yet have a lower incidence of heart disease. The protective effect is the result of the flavonoids in red wine, which protect against oxidative damage to the arteries from LDL cholesterol.
In addition to the heart protective monounsaturated fatty acid, oleic acid, olive oil also contains several antioxidant agents that prevent circulating LDL-cholesterol from becoming damaged and then subsequently damaging the arteries. Olive oil lowers the harmful LDL-cholesterol and increases the level of protective HDL-cholesterol. It has also been proven to lower elevated blood triglycerides though it is not as effective as fish oils in this application.
What nutritional supplements should I take for atherosclerosis?
Foundation Supplements. There are three products from Natural Factors that I think are critical in supporting good health:
- MultiStart (age and gender specific multiple vitamin and mineral formulas). Follow label instructions.
- Enriching Greens - a great tasting "greens drink" containing highly concentrated "greens" like chlorella, spirulina, wheat grass juice, barley grass juice, etc., and herbal extracts. Take one serving (one tablespoon) in 8 ounces of water daily.
- RxOmega-3 Factors - A true pharmaceutical grade fish oil supplement. Take two capsules daily to provide 800 mg of EPA and 400 mg DHA for a combined total of 1,200 mg.
Grape seed or pine bark extract contain flavonoids known as procyanidolic oligomers (PCOs) that exert exceptional antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity. Take 300 mg of PCOs daily. Note: Green tea extract can be substituted for PCOs, take 300 mg of green tea catechins (polyphenols) daily.
Of all the available nutritional supplements to prevent heart disease, the most important without question is a pharmaceutical grade fish oil. It is now estimated that individuals whose diets include a higher intake of fish oils, reduce their risk of heart disease and strokes by roughly 47% compared to those individuals who do not eat fish or take fish oil supplements. In fact, the level of omega-3 fatty acids in the body (the Omega-3 Index) has been shown to be the most accurate predictor of heart disease risk. It is a more sensitive indicator than other well-recognized markers including cholesterol, LDL, HDL, CRP, or homocysteine levels. A combined 1,000 mg of EPA and DHA daily is required to achieve the Omega-3 Index shown to be protective.
Comment:
In my clinical experience as well as based upon an enormous body of scientific evidence, atherosclerosis can be stopped and even reversed through dietary, supplementation, and lifestyle measures. Treatment and prevention includes reducing all known risk factors. For specific recommendations for dealing with the major risk factors, please see the appropriate selection: CHOLESTEROL, DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, and DIABETES.
How do I know if the program is working?
As atherosclerosis is a silent disease, it is difficult to monitor without medical assistance. A regular physical exam and laboratory analysis is recommended on an annual or as needed basis.
Feedback:
Please let Dr. Murray know how this program has worked for you by clicking here.
Condition Center Caution:
- Dr. Murray’s recommendations and protocols for nutritional support are not intended as a substitute for appropriate medical care.
- The products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by the United States Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
- If you have a medical condition or disease, please talk to your doctor prior to using the recommendations given.
- Do not self-diagnose. Proper medical care is critical to good health. If you have a health concern or undiagnosed sign or symptom, please consult a physician, preferably a naturopathic doctor (N.D.), nutritionally oriented medical doctor (M.D. or (D.O.), or other health care specialist. Please go to www.naturopathic.org to find a qualified naturopathic doctor (N.D.) in your area to help you.
- Make your physician aware of all the nutritional supplements or herbal products you are currently taking to avoid any negative interactions with any drugs you are taking.
- If you are currently taking a prescription medication, you absolutely must work with your doctor before discontinuing any drug or altering any drug regimen.
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