Despite a variety of pharmacological, surgical and other potential breakthroughs, cardiovascular diseases kill millions each year. In many cases, these are preventable conditions; yet it seems that we are doing little to prevent them. We have a vast heart disease toolkit to draw from, including beta blockers, stents and defibrillators, but they’re almost all reactive, rather than preventative.
The truth is, we're in the middle of a worldwide metabolic-cardiovascular disease epidemic. We know that the way to truly defeat it is to adopt the healthy diets and active lifestyles that we know can extend lives. But what else can we do? Although they are no panaceas, nutraceuticals and natural supplement ingredients may be part of the solution. By helping to address the underlying causes behind heart disease, targeted nutraceuticals offer an easy-to-follow path, giving patients momentum on the road to better cardiovascular health.
Preserving blood vessels
It's well established that Western diets and sedentary lifestyles contribute to heart disease. But to counteract these influences, we need to understand the specific processes that translate into problems such as hardened arteries — a significant factor in heart attacks and strokes. Perhaps one of the reasons that heart disease is so common is that there are so many mechanisms that contribute to arterial hardening and other degenerative processes in the cardiovascular system.
There's also evidence to suggest that arterial hardening has a close relationship with osteoporosis
For example, when free radicals (from toxins, unhealthy foods or other sources) encounter LDL cholesterol, they can oxidise it, creating a type of rancid fat that furthers inflammation and attracts macrophages that result in arterial plaque build-up. This process drives a vicious cycle of chronic inflammation that creates more arterial plaque and hardens blood vessels, as well as increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke when plaques break off and obstruct circulation.
There's also evidence to suggest that arterial hardening has a close relationship with osteoporosis. Both stem from problems with calcium metabolism; calcium is pulled from bones and deposited onto the artery walls, contributing to plaque, stiffness and hardening.
Another atherosclerotic mechanism involves the protein galectin-3 in the body, which at elevated levels fuels inflammation and promotes the progression of chronic inflammation to fibrosis, including hardened arteries. Understanding galectin-3 provides a window into the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. Many large-scale human studies emphasise the close relationship between elevated galectin-3 and heart disease, and in 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a test that analyses galectin-3 levels as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for cardiovascular disease.
Hearty natural solutions
To address these all-too-common heart disease mechanisms and factors, let’s first examine them one at a time. Free radicals can seem daunting, because there is significant uncertainty in the medical world about the efficacy of antioxidant supplements to combat these rogue molecules. Supplements such as vitamins C and E and omega-3 fatty acids have shown slight promise, but study results have been inconsistent.
By contrast, however, antioxidants found in foods such as brightly coloured fruits and vegetables are shown to provide more effective cardiovascular benefits. This could result from their high levels of polyphenols and other phytonutrients that neutralise free radicals but also perform other essential functions, which we’re only just beginning to understand.
We’ve also seen some success against cardiovascular disease through the modulation of calcium metabolism
We've also seen some success against cardiovascular disease through the modulation of calcium metabolism. People suffering from osteoporosis and arterial calcification seem to share a lack of vitamin K, which plays a key role in calcium distribution. Sources include beneficial bacteria in our guts, which produce vitamin K that our bodies can easily use. Probiotic food such as natto, which contains the enzyme nattokinase, is a source of vitamin K and can help to restore this balance, along with leafy greens. Other helpful nutrients are vitamin D, which has long been associated with bone mineralisation, and magnesium, which is critical for healthy calcium metabolism.
Elevated galectin-3 levels are also relatively easy to address using a well-tested agent with a binding affinity for that protein — modified citrus pectin (MCP). Ordinary, unmodified pectin offers some health benefits in the GI tract, but its large molecules are too big to enter the circulation. By modifying the pectin molecules to a smaller structure, they absorb easily into the circulation and are more bioactive. MCP is able to bind to and block the effects of excess galectin-3, which in turn reduces inflammation, fibrosis and associated vascular remodelling.
MCP also provides other critical benefits such as clinically proven, safe heavy metal removal. For those who are interested in learning more about MCP, I recommend the book, “New Twist on Health: Modified Citrus Pectin for Cancer, Heart Disease and More,” by Karolyn Gazella. Visit www.newtwistonhealth.com.
Other important supplements
Circulation issues, particularly high blood pressure, also impact heart health. Again, there are a number of supplements that can support healthy circulation and help to control elevated blood pressure. One of these is the enzyme nattokinase, an active ingredient in natto, the Japanese fermented soy food mentioned above. A variety of studies have demonstrated the value of nattokinase in improving circulation, particularly through its anticlotting activity. Other trials have shown that nattokinase supplements can help to control both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
Another useful supplement is L-carnitine, which has been found to inhibit C-reactive protein, another inflammatory biomarker. L-Carnitine helps the body to turn fat into energy, with obvious benefits for the heart. Hawthorn berry supports healthy cholesterol levels and contains potent antioxidants. Medicinal mushrooms such as Ganoderma lucidum and Cordyceps sinensis are also good for cardiovascular health. Ganoderma fights atherosclerosis by reducing levels of nitric oxide, and - promotes healthy blood pressure. In addition, garlic, hibiscus and the nutrient CoQ10 have all been shown to reduce blood pressure.
Although we have made some progress against cardiovascular disease, our conventional approach is somewhat backwards
We also need to attend to our stress levels, a primary component in any heart health programme. I recommend practices such as meditation, Chi Gong and yoga, all of which quiet the mind, relax the body and help us to respond calmly to daily events. Although we have made some progress against cardiovascular disease, our conventional approach is somewhat backwards. We tend to tackle the issue late in the process when it’s difficult or impossible to cure. At that point, we are often forced to simply ameliorate symptoms.
The good news is that many health organisations are being proactive with preventive programmes to help people adopt healthier habits. I believe nutraceuticals can play a significant role in this process, with their multiplicity of beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease mechanisms. In the quest to prevent heart disease, researched nutraceutical ingredients — together with dietary modifications, exercise and stress reduction practices — can help to elevate cardiovascular health to a higher level, while offering overall benefits related to reduced inflammation, better circulation and greater energy and vitality.
Selected references
W. Karwowski, et al., "The Mechanism of Vascular Calcification: A Systematic Review", Med. Sci. Monit. 18(1), RA1–11 (2012).
C. Laurent, et al., “Galectin-3 Mediates Aldosterone-Induced Vascular Fibrosis”, Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 33(1), 67–75 (2012).
D.J. Lok, et al., “Prognostic Value of Galectin-3, a Novel Marker of Fibrosis, in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure: Data from the DEAL-HF Study”, Clin. Res. Cardiol. 99(5), 323–328 (2010).
A.C. MacKinnon, et al., “Inhibition of Galectin-3 Reduces Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice”, Glycobiology 23(6), 654–663 (2013).
The author
Dr Isaac Eliaz is an integrative medical doctor, licensed acupuncturist, researcher, product formulator and frequent guest lecturer. He has been a pioneer in holistic medicine since the early 1980s and has published numerous peer-reviewed research papers on several of his key integrative health formulas. He is the founder and medical director of Amitabha Medical Clinic (California, USA), an integrative health centre specialising in cancer and chronic conditions.