Calcified plaques

[Stephanie_S]

Jeff, I saw in a recent tweet you mentioned that there are theories about possibilities for removing calcified plaques, though any mechanism is not known. I searched for that online but like all searches about health, there are all kinds of conflicting and strange ideas.

Could you share what you are aware of regarding this, including current theories and any preliminary results? Much appreciated. Thanks!

[JeffN]

Jeff, I saw in a recent tweet you mentioned that there are theories about possibilities for removing calcified plaques, though any mechanism is not known. I searched for that online but like all searches about health, there are all kinds of conflicting and strange ideas.

Could you share what you are aware of regarding this, including current theories and any preliminary results? Much appreciated. Thanks!

This is the link to the abstract of the study I mentioned, in regard to The NY Times article

Meta-analysis of the effects of lifestyle modifications on coronary and carotid atherosclerotic burden
Am J Cardiol. 2015 Jan 15;115(2):268-75. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2014.10.035. Epub 2014 Oct 31.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=25465939

Abstract
Lifestyle modifications are the crux of atherosclerotic disease management. The goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of diet and exercise in decreasing coronary and carotid atherosclerotic burden. Randomized controlled trials examining the effects of intensive lifestyle measures on atherosclerotic progression in coronary and carotid arteries as measured by baseline and follow-up quantitative coronary angiogram and ultrasonographic carotid intimal-medial thickness (CIMT), respectively, were included. Studies were excluded if the intervention additionally included a medication. MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Controlled Trials Registers, reports, and abstracts from major cardiology meetings were searched by 2 researchers independently and verified by the primary investigator. Standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was calculated using random-effects model. Publication bias and heterogeneity were assessed. Fourteen trials were included. Seven used quantitative coronary angiogram, and 7 used CIMT; 1,343 lesions in 340 patients in the coronary group and 919 patients in the carotid group were analyzed. Overall, lifestyle modifications were associated with a decrease in coronary atherosclerotic burden in percent stenosis by -0.34 (95% CI -0.48 to -0.21) SMD, with no significant publication bias and heterogeneity (p = 0.21, I(2) = 28.25). Similarly, in the carotids, there was a decrease in the CIMT, in millimeter, by -0.21 (95% CI -0.36 to -0.05) SMD and by -0.13 (95% CI -0.25 to -0.02) SMD, before and after accounting for publication bias and heterogeneity (p = 0.13, I(2) = 39.91; p = 0.54, I(2) = 0), respectively. In conclusion, these results suggest that intensive lifestyle modifications are associated with a decrease in coronary and carotid atherosclerotic burden.
PMID: 25465939 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2014.10.035

Unfortunately, it is behind a paywall but if you can access it, it may be of value. I enjoyed reading it.

However, I am not going to wax philosophical about potential theories but I am sure you get find those who will with a decent search.

I’m not even sure Dr McDougall, Dr Esselstyn, Dr Ornish or even Dr Vogel, would be able to tell you.

What matters most to me is that we have several studies using very similar lifestyle and dietary approaches from different researchers “suggesting” (as the article says) that this “reversal” or “decrease in coronary and calories atherosclerotic burden” is happening.

From what I have seen over the last 30 years, it is more then a suggestion.

In Health
Jeff