Summary, Conclusion & Future Perspective
The combination of a lipid-lowering diet and selected scientifically proven nutraceutical supplements have the ability to reduce LDL-C by up to 50%, increase LDL particle size, decrease LDL particle number, lower TG and VLDL and increase total and type 2 b HDL and improve HDL functionality and reverse cholesterol transport. In addition inflammation, oxidative stress and immune responses are decreased. Many surrogates for vascular target organ damage are improved, such as carotid IMT and plaque, aortic fatty streaks, CAC, plaque regression and morphology changes, endothelial function, vascular smooth muscle hypertrophy and elasticity, CABG and stent occlusion, and heart rate variability. Hard CV end points are also improved such as atherosclerosis, CVA, CVD, CHD, MI, abdominal aortic aneurysms, sudden death, and total mortality. In several prospective clinical trials, CHD and CVD have been reduced with many of the nutraceutical supplements such as omega 3 fatty acids, RYR, ALA and niacin. This nutritional and nutraceutical supplement treatment is a valid alternative for patients that are statin intolerant, cannot take other drugs for the treatment of dyslipidemia or in those who prefer alternative treatments. This new approach to lipid management to decrease vascular disease utilizes a more functional and metabolic medicine approach with a broader treatment program that addresses the multitude of steps involved in dyslipidemia-induced vascular damage (Box 1, Box 2, Box 3, Box 4, Box 5, Box 6, Box 7, Box 8, Box 9, Box 10, Box 11, Box 12, Box 13, Box 14, Box 15, Box 16, Box 17, Box 18, Box 19 & Table 1).
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The author has no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Clin Lipidology. 2014;9(3):333-354. © 2014 Future Medicine Ltd.
