Atherosclerosis
DESCRIPTION
Atherosclerosis is a condition characterised by deposits
(plaques), within the walls of the artery. Although any
artery may be affected - the aorta, the coronary and cerebral
vascular systems are most frequently involved. The tissue
area is deprived of vital oxygen and nutrient supply. If
the artery involved supplies the heart, the result is a
heart attack (myocardial infarction). If the artery supplies
the brain, the result is a Stroke (cerebral vascular accident).
These plaques consist largely of lipids (mainly cholesterol),
connective tissue, and smooth muscle cells shed from the
artery wall.
Due to the nature of this
disease, it is usually not diagnosed until there is an interruption
in the normal flow of blood. As the plaques increase in
size over a period of years, they narrow the channel, progressively
compromising blood flow. Complications due to atherosclerosis
are responsible for more deaths in the UK than any other
condition. Major risk factors for the disease include Smoking,
Obesity, Stress and a lack of physical activity. Therefore,
making the relevant lifestyle changes can markedly reduce
the chances of atherosclerosis developing or at least delay
its progression.
HERBS
Garlic (10)
Hawthorn (11)
NUTRITIONAL
SUPPLIMENTS
Calcium (1)
Evening Primrose Oil (2)
Fish Oil (3,4)
Magnesium (5)
Selenium (6)
Vitamin A (Beta Carotene ) (7)
B Complex
Vitamin C (8,9)
Vitamin E (8)
REFERENCES
1. McCarron D, et al. Dietary Calcium and blood pressure:
Modifying factors in specific populations. Am J Clin Nutr
1991; 54:215S-19S.
2. Horrobin DF, Manku MS. How do polyunsaturated fatty acids
lower plasma cholesterol levels? Lipids 1983;558-62.
3. Harris WS. N-3 fatty acids and serum lipoproteins: human
studies. Am J Clin Nutr 65(Suppl.): 1645S-1654S, 1997.
4. Dyerberg J. N-3 fatty acids and coronary artery disease:
potentials and problems. Omega-3, Lipoproteins Atherosclerosis
27: 251-258, 1996.
5. Moore T. The role of dietary electrolytes in Hypertension.
J Am Coll Nutr 1989; 8:Suppl S:68S-80S.
6. Shamberger RJ, Willis CE. Epidemiological studies on
Selenium and heart disease. Fed Proc 1976;35:578 [abstract
#2061].
7. Kohlmeier L and Hastings SB. Epidemiologic evidence of
a role of Carotenoids in cardiovascular disease prevention.
Am J Clin Nutr 62(Suppl.): 1370S-1376S, 1995.
8. Losonczy KG, Harris TB, and Havlik RJ. Vitamin E and
Vitamin C supplement use and risk of all-cause and Coronary
Heart Disease mortality in older persons: the established
populations for epidemiologic studies of the elderly. Am
J Clin Nutr 64: 190-196, 1996.
9. Ness AR. Vitamin C and cardiovascular disease. Nutr Rep
15(3): 1997.
10. Efendi JL, et al. The effect of the aged Garlic extract,
"kyolic," on the development of experimental atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis 132(1): 37-42, 1997.
11. Mavers VWH, Hensel H. Changes in local myocardial blood
flow following oral administration to a Crataegus extract
to non-anesthetized dogs. Arzneim Forsch 1974;24:783-85.
