optimal health: functional medicine and nutritional genomics

AAPI’S NUTRITION GUIDE TO OPTIMAL HEALTH: USING PRINCIPLES OF FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE AND NUTRITIONAL GENOMICS PART 2
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Atherosclerosis,
Functional Foods,
and Nutritional
Genomics
Micheline Vargas,
DrPH, CNS, RCEP,
CSCS
2012
INTRODUCTION
The leading cause of mortality in both men and
women in the United States is cardiovascular
disease (CVD) due to atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis involves chronic inflammation and a
progressive buildup of lipids and fibrous elements
in the arterial walls. It begins with the formation
of “fatty streaks”. Fatty streaks can be found in
the aorta by 10 years of age, in the coronary
arteries by age 20, and in the cerebral
vasculature by the age of 40. 1
Early intervention
is imperative. Preventive interventions focused on
managing cholesterol, blood pressure, and weight,
have been found to favorably alter atherosclerotic
progression. Unfortunately, less that 50% of the
cardiovascular events are prevented in the
treatment groups of the most successful clinical
trials. 1,2
In fact, most myocardial infarctions (MI)
occur in individuals with normal cholesterol levels. 3
Greater focus on contributing factors (i.e.,
inflammation) involved in the atherosclerotic
disease process may be helpful in preventing
cardiovascular events.
Biological data now demonstrate that most MIs
occur after atherosclerotic plaque rupture and
thrombosis (clot) formation. Inflammation can
threaten plaque stability and increase its propensity
to rupture and in turn cause thromboses that
trigger a cardiovascular event. Approximately twothirds
to three quarters of all fatal coronary
thromboses are due to rupture of the fibrous cap. 4
Autopsies show that rupture is more likely to
occur in plaques with a soft lipid core and a thin
inflamed fibrous cap. 5 Therefore, the contributing
factors that lead to the lipid core and inflamed
cap need to be addressed in an intervention.
Nutrition therapy can play an integral role in the
prevention of atherosclerosis and should aim to
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