This Exercise shrinks PLAQUE in your arteries (!) | New trial

About this Video

• Video Title: This Exercise shrinks PLAQUE in your arteries (!) | New trial
• Channel: Nutrition Made Simple!
• Speakers: The transcript doesn't explicitly name the speaker.
• Duration: 00:09:02

Introduction

This video discusses a new clinical trial investigating the impact of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on arterial plaque in high-risk patients already undergoing lipid-lowering treatment. The study compares the effects of HIIT against standard care advice.

Key Takeaways

• A supervised HIIT program resulted in a statistically significant reduction in plaque size compared to a control group receiving standard care.
• The average reduction in the largest plaque lesion was 1.2% after six months of HIIT. While seemingly small, a 1% reduction in plaque size in other trials correlates with a 20-25% reduction in cardiovascular event risk.
• The HIIT group also showed significant reductions in BMI and waist circumference. However, LDL cholesterol and ApoB levels remained unchanged between the groups, suggesting that the plaque reduction wasn't solely due to lipid changes.
• The study participants were already on lipid-lowering medications, with LDL cholesterol levels around 80 mg/dL (a level where plaque growth typically stops). The HIIT program showed plaque regression even at this level.
• The video emphasizes the need for further research to explore the combined effects of lipid-lowering medication and exercise, and to investigate the impact of different exercise types on plaque reduction and cardiovascular outcomes.