Posted by Martin Banschbach, Ph.D.

In Reply to: Atherosclerotic plaque is actually composed of different layers posted by Rick

The first stage is a fatty streak, not calcification. calcification is the
*last* stage in the athersclerosis process.

> When magnesium and certain trace mineral levels are low
> relative to calcium levels, there is evidence that the body does not
> handle what then becomes "excess" calcium very well. This excess calcium
> can be deposited on the arterial walls - a kind of "toxic waste site".

Excessive calcium does lead to soft tissue calcification. This is often
seen in patients with bone cancer or in the case of vitamin D toxicity.
The calcification process along plaques in the arterial wall is a different
process. This last phase of the athersclerotic process had been thought to
be irreversible but it is now known to be reversible (the Ornish diet
accomplishes this and chelation therapy is also supposed to do it).

In animal models, the calcium/magnesium balance has been the single most
effective way to remove calcium from aterial plaques.

> there is nothing left for the body to do but "dump" the calcium somewhere;
> so onto the artery walls it goes.

Calcium dumping does occur in hypercalcemia but the calcification of
plaques is apparently a normal process in the athersclerotic disease
process. I have been unable to really get a good explaination of why the
terminal stages of plaque formation involves calcium deposition. I
understand the collagen deposition process (fibrotic plaques). The best I
can come up with is that chronic damage over a long time period eventually
results in calcium deposition. Many football players have had the same
problem with repeated damage to specific muscles. Over time, these muscle
can develop calcium deposits. I have often wondered if magnesium intake
were high whether this calcification of plaques or deposition of calcium
into injured muscle would occur at all.

> It is therefore possible in some people, by raising magnesium levels and
> ensuring adequate trace mineral intake (like chromium), to reverse
> atherosclerosis by allowing the body to begin to use the otherwise-excess
> calcium. (See Boskey AC, Pasner AS, Effect of magnesium on lipid-induced
> calcification, Calcif Tissue Int, 32:139-143, 1980 and Leonard F,
> Initiation and inhibition of subcutaneous calcification, Calc Tiss Res,
> 10:269-279, 1972).

Magnesium has been a key to reversing atherosclerosis (you have to get the
calcium out first). The Ornish diet (which is a vegetarian diet) does
increase magnesium intake.

> This also means that ingesting high levels of calcium without proper trace
> mineral support can actually accelerate the development of
> arteriosclerosis.

It's certainly possible but as yet unproven. I think that it's wise to
include calcium and magnesium together if a calcium supplement is going to
be used. If diet is going to be used, the best diet will have a good
balance between calcium and magnesium (dairy products have a very large
excess of calcium over magnesium and they are prohibited on the Ornish
diet).
--
Marty B. "You are what you eat"

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