Can atherosclerosis be reversed?

Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, Caldwell Esselstyn, MD - TTC

• There appears to be a nutritional component to heart disease and atherosclerosis risk
• High ldl levels (above 100) directly lead to atherosclerosis
• Very low ldl levels has been shown to stop the progression to atherosclerosis
• Very low ldl combined with high hdl may even reverse atherosclerosis
• You have to be over 75% blocked typically before you notice symptoms
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death
• Cyclodextrin has been shown to promote atherosclerosis regression

Cyclodextrin promotes atherosclerosis regression via macrophage reprogramming

The abstract:

Here we show that CD treatment of murine atherosclerosis reduced atherosclerotic plaque size and CC load, and promoted plaque regression even with a continued cholesterol-rich diet. Mechanistically, CD increased oxysterol production in both macrophages and human atherosclerotic plaques, and promoted liver X receptor (LXR)-mediated transcriptional reprogramming to improve cholesterol efflux and exert anti-inflammatory effects. In vivo, this CD-mediated LXR agonism was required for the anti-atherosclerotic and anti-inflammatory effects of CD as well as for augmented reverse cholesterol transport. Since CD treatment in humans is safe and CD beneficially affects key mechanisms of atherogenesis, it may therefore be used clinically to prevent or treat human atherosclerosis.

The future looks bright in that we now have anti-atherosclerotic treatments such as statins with PCSK9 inhibitor and also cyclodextrin. At the same time more is known about nutrition and we know soluble fiber can help to raise hdl and lower ldl cholesterol. Transfats should not be eaten at all, and any food which promotes vldl should be avoided in my opinion. Is fish oil healthy? Fish oil raises ldl cholesterol in some people and raises overall cholesterol, but is there a way to get the benefits of omega 3s from algae oil without the raise in cholesterol? I don't know but this is something for medical professionals to provide an answer to.

Lower seems to be better for LDL

The lowest ldl level you can safely achieve seems to be the target level. They say under 100 is good but if you are like most Americans then you already have atherosclerosis which needs to be reversed. An ldl under 70 completely stops progression and an ldl under 50 may even reverse atherosclerosis. How does someone get to an ldl under 60 or under 50? The lowest I've ever achieved was around 90, but it would seem vegetarians or those who consume a plant based diet have a better chance at reaching very low ldl levels.

References

1. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/health/24hear.html
2. http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20060313/statins-may-reverse-plaque-buildup#1
3. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/706400_5
4. https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2016/11/15/cleveland-clinic-led-study-shows-reversal-coronary-plaque-buildup-injectable-cholesterol-drug/
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4878149/
6. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109704007168