Diminishing arterial plaque

[maco1]

I am interested in any feedback on two approaches or than statins or in addition to them) to diminishing arterial plaque that are getting a lot of attention, the first one without a lot of scientifically-controlled study, and the other just emerging from early approved studies:  

1.  EDTA CHELATION treatment (pronounced “keelation”) - This is something my cardiologist knows about, says he's seen nothing indicating any negatives for it - so he's of opinion I could use if want to put time and money in it.  

2.  Paragraph from 2009 AP article:

Intravenous doses of a synthetic component of “good” cholesterol reduced artery disease in just six weeks in a small study with startlingly big implications for treating the nation’s No. 1 killer. “The concept is sort of liquid Drano for the coronary arteries,” said Dr. Steven Nissen, a Cleveland Clinic cardiologist who led the study.

[ed34]

sure.
If converting Cholesterol mg/dl to mmol/L  multiply mg/dl by 0.026
so 200 mg/dl would equate to 5.2 mmol/L
For triglycerides multiply by 0.011

obviously to convert mmol/L to mg/dl you simply divide the mmol/L by those values.

[oldie]

my doc is no more a mathematican than I am. May I ask you to help us by telling us how to translate  mmol/L  to mg/dl. This last measure is what is used in my Guatemalan lab.

[ed34]

I think the science of blood lipids is still in a big state of confusion. Last year the UK set
new standards in the lipid levels for people who are suffering heart disease. Levels over a
year ago to achieve were...
LDL  1.0 mmol/L   Trigs < 1.7 mmol/L

A year ago they were altered to ....

LDL  2.0 mmol/L  Trigs < 2.0 mmol/L

What concerns me is what drug companies claim, and the influence they have in the
community. I have spoken to over 100 CAD patients in the last two years with my various admissions to different hospitals and cardiac rehibilitation programs. I would
estimate that 1 in 10 could achieve the old results. The new ones are not difficult at all.
It is also CLAIMED that statins can actually reduce CAD in some people, but I have never met one yet. I have asked 12 cardiologists if they have met anyone, of course
they haven't. So I wonder who actually makes these claims and where the real proof lies.
Did the drug companies create the new recommended levels to make their products seem more effective? who knows. Truth is so difficult to find.

Chelation research results were allowed by the FDA but then eventually not allowed because there were no placebo subjects. Then suddenly for some unknown reason the
results were allowed to be published again. Seems odd doesn't it. Since that time other
studies have shown no real benefit from such medication. With the world running heavily
on finance, I often wonder what truth actually gets through to us.

[kenkeith]

My doctor believes HDL higher than LDL of a lipid profile reduces plaque buildup of the coronary vessels.  I have heard of various application as you describe as drano, but I haven't seen any strong and trustworthy evidence for the condition, but Cleveland Clinic is a reliable source...if you aren't relying on advertisements displayed on their web site.

I take a statin and my HDL is now higher than my LDL, and the doctor believes this will reduce my CAD?!  I've been taking a nitrate prior to a workout at the gym, and prior I always have taken the med.  I will try the same workout without nitro and see what happens.

[ed34]

edta chelation is not proven to be effective. All the tests I know of that used placebo subjects alongside takers of the real drug, showed no difference, short or long term.
Statins do the purpose they are intented for. They lower cholesterol and this is easily
seen by simple blood tests.
Even if a chemical is produced that breaks down plaque, this is mostly a thin layer which
lays on top of soft fat underneath.

[maco1]

I meant "other than statins...." in first sentence of my question post