Atherosclerosis is the primary cause of
coronary artery disease,
heart attack,
strokes, and
peripheral vascular disease. Alternative/complimentary medicines, although are unacceptable by medical community, may be of great help in suppression, slowing of progression and regression of
atherosclerosis. Numerous natural products are in use for
therapy in spite of lack of evidence. This paper discusses the basic mechanism of
atherosclerosis, risk factors for
atherosclerosis, and prevention, slowing of progression and regression of
atherosclerosis with flaxseed-derived
secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG). SDG content of flaxseed varies from 6mg/g to 18 mg/g. Flaxseed is the richest source of SDG. SDG possesses
antioxidant,
antihypertensive,
antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic activities. SDG content of some commonly used food has been described. SDG in very low dose (15 mg/ kg) suppressed the development of hypercholesterolemic
atherosclerosis by 73 % and this effect was associated with reduction in serum total
cholesterol, LDL-C, and oxidative stress, and an increase in the levels HDL-C. A summary of the effects of flaxseed and its components on hypercholesterolemic
atherosclerosis has been provided. Reduction in hypercholesterolemic
atherosclerosis by flaxseed, CDC-flaxseed,
flaxseed oil, flax
lignan complex and SDG are 46 %, 69 %, 0 %, 34 % and 73 % respectively in
dietary cholesterol -induced rabbit model of
atherosclerosis. SDG slows the progression of
atherosclerosis in animal model. Long-term use of SDG regresses hypercholesterolemic
atherosclerosis. It is interesting that regular diet following high
cholesterol diet accelerates in this animal model of
atherosclerosis. In conclusion SDG suppresses, slow the progression and regresses the
atherosclerosis. It could serve as an
alternative medicine for the prevention, slowing of progression and regression of
atherosclerosis and hence for the treatment of
coronary artery disease,
stroke and peripheral arterial
vascular diseases.