Dietary supplements significantly relieve atherosclerotic lesions

When we were young, our parents told us to take vitamins so that we could grow big and strong
.
Now, researchers from Japan have discovered that a special supplement can even repair an injured heart
.

In a recent study published in the European Heart Journal, researchers at Osaka University found that a dietary supplement could significantly reverse heart disease symptoms
in a subset of patients.

Coronary artery disease (CAD), which involves narrowing or even closing of the arteries of the heart, often leads to heart attacks and is the leading cause
of death worldwide.
Despite treatments such as cholesterol-lowering drugs and drug-eluting stents, a novel stent technology for topical drug delivery, deaths from the disease are still common, and some patients appear to be resistant to treatment
.

"About 15 years ago, we discovered a novel type of CAD called triglyceride deposition cardiomyopathy (TGCV), in which coronary arteries are blocked by triglyceride deposition produced by defects in intracellular breakdown of triglycerides in vascular smooth muscle cells," said
Ken-ichi Hirano, lead author of the study.
"This mechanism makes TGCV different from classical cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis and explains patients
who are resistant to standard therapy for CAD.
"

Researchers have developed diagnostic criteria for TGCV and have shown that the condition is particularly prevalent
in diabetics and those who have undergone hemodialysis.
However, despite the ability to diagnose the disease, effective treatment for these patients remains elusive
.

"Now we report significant regression of diffuse coronary atherosclerosis in two TGCV patients," Ken-ichi Hirano said
.
"Prior to the diagnosis of TGCV, both had refractory chest pain and diabetes, followed by dietary intake of tricaprin that led to symptom relief
.
"

Tricaprin is a commercially available food supplement that promotes lipid breakdown
in cardiomyocytes.
In addition to relieving painful symptoms in these patients, tricaprin significantly reduces the accumulation
of triglycerides in the blood vessels of the heart.

Ken-ichi Hirano said: "Although atherosclerotic resolution after reduced lipid levels has been well described, this is the first reported report of increased intracellular triglyceride lipolysis leading to atherosclerotic resolution, so it is a conceptually novel treatment
for coronary atherosclerosis.
"

Given that not all patients respond to current CAD treatments, the findings of this study pave the way
for a multifaceted approach to CAD treatment.
The remarkable results achieved by administering an off-the-shelf dietary supplement offer hope
for patients who would otherwise continue to suffer the debilitating effects of the disease.