|
The development of cardiovascular or heart disease is a complex process. Before we began to be led down the incorrect path of cholesterol phobia, a German pathologist named Rudolf Virchow was on-target when he observed that the plaque build-up in diseased arteries resembled an injury or scab. Inflammation was involved in the process. (For more on inflammation see the September 2010 Nutritious Bytes.)
Indeed, inflammation is a major factor in the development of cardiovascular disease, our number one killer. In fact, there are inflammatory biochemicals that can be measured on blood tests that are stronger risk factors for cardiovascular disease than is cholesterol. One of these is high sensitivity C-reactive protein, also known as cardio CRP. Make sure you get this test done. Ideal values are less than 0.7 mg/dl.
Inflammation damages arteries and contributes to plaque formation. Plaque not only contains oxidized and glycated cholesterol, but white blood cells, platelets, and calcium. It is the body's response to injury.
So, what causes the inflammation that damages the arteries? There are many possible factors and they vary from person to person. Therefore, it follows that two individuals with cardiovascular disease may need quite different treatments to truly address the underlying causes.
I'll mention just a few of the factors that may induce an inflammatory response that damages the arteries and leads to plaque, narrowing, and eventually a heart attack, stroke, or other life-threatening blood vessel blockage. Congestive heart failure and hypertension (high blood pressure) also result from inflammation.
Cigarette smoke leads to inflammation and blood vessel injury. So does mercury toxicity. Inactivity, inadequate sleep, and stress are inflammatory, as are numerous dietary factors like the toxic man-made partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. "Belly fat" is a factory of inflammatory chemicals.
However, anytime we consider the source of an inflammatory condition, we have to stop and realize we are dealing with the immune system. And where is most of the immune system clustered? The gastrointestinal tract.
One of the most important and under-appreciated sources of inflammation that damages the arteries, as well as contributing to inflammation throughout the rest of the body, is an unhealthy intestinal tract. The intestinal immune system is commonly over-activated by two factors: foods and organisms.
A study published in 2008 involved 30 obese children and 30 normal weight children. They had measures of C-reactive protein, IgG antibodies to foods, and narrowing of the carotid arteries, which supply the brain. A strong correlation was found between inflammation (CRP levels), food IgG antibodies, and narrowing of the carotid arteries. (Click here for the study). I routinely order Food IgG tests on my patients. See "Featured Lab Test" in column to left.
Perhaps more important than food sensitivities in producing artery-damaging inflammation is dysbiosis and endotoxemia. These terms refer to an unhealthy balance of strains of intestinal organisms with production of toxic chemicals that are absorbed into the blood stream and have major adverse systemic effects. We each have hundreds of types of bacteria living within our alimentary canals (mouth to anus). These bacteria number more than 100 trillion and weigh a total of several pounds. Some of these bacteria are good for us and may help protect against obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Other strains have the opposite effect. For some individuals, yeast and parasites are also important factors. This can all be assessed by a Gastrointestinal Function Profile - a laboratory analysis of a single stool specimen.
The organisms in your intestinal tract have a major effect on systemic inflammation.
I first came across evidence of this about fifteen years ago from a paper that showed "toxic" intestinal bacteria caused an increased "stickiness" of circulating white blood cells. This is bad. White blood cells normally roll along the blood vessel lining. When there is inflammation, which in this study was produced from cell wall components of intestinal bacteria, the white blood cells adhere to the arterial wall, penetrate it, and initiate the formation of a plaque.
 | |
Inflammation emanating from G.I. tract damages arteries
|
A series of fascinating animal studies illustrate this point. What food component has been implicated in the development of heart disease? There are several that probably come to mind. One is dietary fat. One reason that fat contributes to cardiovascular dysfunction and disease is that it is fuel for "bad" intestinal bacteria! Animals fed a high-fat diet developed "leaky gut syndrome", insulin resistance, systemic inflammation, and obesity. This experiment was repeated with animals that had their intestinal tracts sterilized; the intestinal bacteria were removed. This time when the animals were fed the high-fat diet, the leaky gut, insulin resistance, inflammation, and obesity did not occur! The above experiment was repeated with another interesting twist. Animals were fed the high-fat diet but were also fed a prebiotic. A prebiotic is food for good intestinal bacteria like bifidobacteria. The outcome of this experiment was protection from the adverse metabolic effects from the high-fat diet. A few months ago, another chapter in this story was published. In this experiment, obese and diabetic mice fed the high-fat diet were given a powerful natural anti-inflammatory supplement derived from hops. There was protection against leaky gut syndrome, absorption of bacterial debris (endotoxemia), and inflammation. Animals given the hops extract had better glucose and insulin levels and reduced body fat accumulation. ( Read study). A separate cell culture study on this patented hops extract examined a number of cardiovascular disease biochemical risk factors. The hops extract modulated gene activation resulting in reduced inflammation and white cell adhesion or stickiness to blood vessels. The researchers concluded this hops extract "may have beneficial effects for prevention or treatment of cardiovascular diseases by ameliorating inflammation and plaque destabilization, which are hallmarks of atherosclerosis." The substance tested in these studies is a supplement I carry in my office.
Another interesting supplement is LactoFlamX. This is a strain of bacteria known as Lactobacillus plantarum 299v. This bacterial supplement, given to a group of cigarette smokers, has been found to reduce blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, fibrinogen, leptin, insulin resistance, free radical markers, inflammation, and white blood cell stickiness. Contact my office if you would like to purchase LactoFlamX.
Although we have only scratched the surface, hopefully you have a better understanding of some of the real factors behind heart disease. There are special tests available to better evaluate the health of your cardiovascular system. Tailored, natural treatments are usually the most effective and safest.
| 
