Health & Wellness News From Byron J. Richards
PRINT RSS SHARE

Boswellic Acid Reduces Hardening of Arteries

Thursday, January 31, 2008 - Byron J. Richards, CCN
E-mail:

A new study has shown that boswellic acid, a natural herbal dietary supplement, dramatically reduced plaque formation in mice.  In the experiment mice were injected with a toxin (LPS) that produces circulatory inflammation resulting in arteriosclerosis (hardening of arteries).  Mice treated with boswellic acid were far more able to withstand the toxic exposure, showing half the size of lesions compared to untreated mice.

This is a significant finding because inflammatory pollution, pesticides, stress, and bacterial endotoxins like LPS all induce inflammation that leads to heart disease in people.  The fact that boswellic acid was able to significantly ameliorate the effects of a potent toxin on the circulatory system is a very important result.

The researchers were able to identify that boswellic acid turned down the core inflammatory gene signal known as NF-kappaB.  Those who have read Mastering Leptin know that I was the first nutritionist in the country to explain NF-kappaB’s role in inflammation, obesity, leptin problems, heart disease, and cancer.  It is a core issue to these problems.

It is also interesting to note that total cholesterol levels were irrelevant to the plaque amount in this study.  This finding casts further doubt on the suppression of LDL cholesterol with medication when the source of the problem is actually inflammation.

Boswellic acid is one more nutritional tool to put in the anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular helpful toolbox.  The study authors concluded “The inhibition of NF-kappaB activity by plant resins from species of the Boswellia family might represent an alternative for classical medicine treatments for chronic inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis.”

Related Entries: Poor Flexibility is a Sign of Stiff Arteries

###


Supplements that contain Boswellia serrata

Other Health News

Pulling Data...
Loading Navigation...
Loading Content...

View complete Health News Archives
Categories:

Most Popular Health News:

Wellness Resources® Success Stories!