Atherosclerosis, commonly referred to as clogged arteries, occurs when plaque. which is made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other compounds in the blood, build up inside the walls of your arteries. These arteries carry blood to the heart and throughout your body, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. When your blood vessels become blocked by plaque, you face an increased risk of stroke, heart attack and death. A variety of supplements can help protect you from clogged arteries, but you should consult your physician before taking any dietary supplements if you are on any prescription medications or you have a health condition.
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements
Taking supplements of omega-3 fatty acids can prevent the development of plague in your arteries. Research published in the July 2008 "Journal of the American College of Cardiology" indicates that men who ingest an average of 1.3g of omega-3 fatty acids have a lower rates of atherosclerosis than do men who live in areas where the average rate of omega-3 fatty acid ingestion is 0.2g per day. The American Heart Association recommends that you eat at least two portions of fatty fish like salmon each week to help prevent clogged arteries and heart disease, but fish oil supplements---which contain abundant doses of omega-3 fatty acids---also provide benefits in the dosage of one to four capsules per day. The University of Maryland Medical Center warns that you should consult your doctor before taking more than 1g of fish oil capsules, however, as fish oil supplements may increase the risk of bleeding.
Coenzyme Q10 Supplements
Coenzyme Q10, also called CoQ10, plays a vital role in helping your body to make energy and works to protect your body from damage caused by free radicals. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center website, taking CoQ10 supplements may prevent or treat clogged arteries, although it can interfere with medicines called statins, which are used for heart disease prevention. Research published in the September 2005 issue of the journal "American Family Physician" indicates that study participants with atherosclerosis who took 120mg of CoQ10 each day for a year decreased their risk of complications associated with this condition, including heart attack and cardiac death.
Folic Acid Supplements
Taking folic acid supplements may help you avoid developing clogged arteries. While no research has found a definitive link between folic acid and atherosclerosis, the University of Maryland Medical Center website reveals that taking 400mcg per day of folic acid, along with vitamin B6 and vitamin B12, help break down a compound called homocysteine, which researchers believe may damage artery walls, resulting in clogged arteries. A January 2007 article published in the journal "Life Sciences" indicates that taking folic acid supplements decreases the size of lesions in clogged arteries in mice---a finding that may carry over to human research.
References
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Is Atherosclerosis?
- "Journal of the American College of Cardiology"; Marine-Derived n-3 Fatty Acids and Atherosclerosis in Japanese, Japanese-American and White Men; Akira Sekikawa, M.D., Ph.D., et al.; 2008
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Coenzyme Q10
- "American Family Physician"; Coenzyme Q10; Robert Bonakdar, M.D., and Erminia Guarneri, M.D.; September 2005
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Atherosclerosis
- Life Sciences: Folic Acid Reduces Atherosclerosis
