Effect of Low Calorie, High Anti-oxidant Diet on Progression of Coronary Artery Disease: A Single Case Experimental Study

Abstract

Introduction: A large amount of scientific evidence supporting the hypothesis that nutritional modification might prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths, could even reverse the remodelling and risk factors of CVD. However, studies on the interplay between diet and CVD are scarce especially in low- and middle-income countries. The current single patient observational study attempted to evaluate the relationship between controlled diet along with standard medication and coronary artery disease (CAD) outcomes. Methods and results: A 69-year-old male, with a known history of diabetes and occasional postprandial angina, diagnosed with ischemic heart disease and triple vessel disease with 80-90% narrowing in all three epicardial branches of the coronary artery was enrolled in this study. The patient was put on the interventional phase (reverse diet) for 12 weeks after completion of the baseline phase. The reverse diet contained pre-portion ready to cook food products to fulfil daily requirements of breakfast, lunch, dinner, soup, and early morning diet. He was suggested for daily walk and exercise (less aerobic). At the end of the intervention, the patient's overall calcified and non-calcified plaque volume, lumen volume, atheroma plaque volume was found reduced as confirmed by computed tomography angiography (CTA). Additionally, the patient’s standard medications were also reduced after the intervention by approximately 50%. Conclusion: This single patient evidence suggested that the low calorie and anti-oxidant rich reverse diet intervention is capable to reduce the odds of CAD.