Hi DiverDown2, I'll look into trying some low dose potassium.
The 25mg of pregnenolone and 50 to 100mg of DHEA each day is definitely helping energy levels and lowering anxiety.
I have recently added 1g of taurine to my PT intake, where I also drink about 8ml of 60% DMSO. I also apply the DMSO on my neck about 2 to 3 times a day.
TaurineHas a sulfonic acid end group and may help in reducing plaque.
Studies conducted in laboratory animal models using both genetic and dietary models of hyperlipidemia have demonstrated that taurine supplementation retards the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23224908we show that the addition of 2.5% taurine to an atherogenic diet reduces left main coronary artery wall pathology on a background of a worse lipid profile. As well, taurine also significantly reduces endothelial ER stress, hyperhomocysteinemia, and hypermethioninemia and impairs left main coronary artery endothelial cell apoptosis without detectable effects on the NOS, RAS, or oxidative stress systems.
http://hyper.ahajournals.org/content/53/6/1017.longtaurine reduces vascular calcifications
Oral taurine supplementation has been found to reduce the arterial thickening and stiffness characteristic of atherosclerosis, to restore arteries’ responses to beneficial endothelial nitric oxide, and to reduce inflammation
Taurine helps restore and control normal calcium ion flow in auditory cells.
reduces heart arrhythmia (irregular heart beat).
As a result of re-reading an old Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw book, I rediscovered the following:
Anti-oxidants protect the immune system, which in turn fights arterial lesions:The body has vitamin C pumps to concentrate it 10x in brain and spinal cord.
Inside nerve cells, the concentration is 100x. All to protect the polyunsaturated lipids.
VC increases the effectiveness of the immune system.
Leukocytes carry VC to the site of a heart attack.
prostacyclin synthase (makes the anti-clotting prostocyclin) is inhibited by free radicals.
without prostacyclin insides of blood vessels become very sticky.
macrophages (immune cells) are badly affected by oxidised fats.
immune system needs adequate levels of noradrenaline, made from tyrosine (best, 200mg/day) and phenylalanine.
immune system destroys atheroscelerotic lesions.
saturated fat - coats muscle cells, so get insulin resistance
unsaturated fats need anti-oxidant protection.
selenium (in glutathione peroxidase) protects the immune system from peroxides.
arginine 5g helps to release more growth hormone (and so helps maintain immune system).
All meat contains endotoxins (toxins emitted from bacteria) that cannot be removed by cooking. These cause an inflammatory response.
DMSO - mops up hydroxyl radicals
(.OH is more reactive than fluorine!!)Result is sulphoxide radical, so still need C, E to mop these up as well.
B1, B5, cysteine and C are good at preventing collagen cross linking.
B5 enhances endurance - cofactor for making ATP. 1g/day improves skin appearance after a few weeks.
glycine 5g is calming
inositol 3g, anti-anxiety
niacinamide 1g, anti-anxiety
Both inositol and niacinamide activate the brain benzodiazepine receptors
choline 3g
For making acetylcholine - helps keep you asleep.
Improves memory
But gut bacteria may use it to make trimethylamine (bad), but perhaps only for meat eaters.
This all shows the great importance of anti-oxidants in any arterial health program, and when taking DMSO. I also didn't realise the importance of the immune system in clearing plaque and its sensitivity to peroxide attack.
A big problem is in unsaturated fats like fish oil. I am taking cod liver oil for the EPA and DHA, and extra Vit D with it since the oil hasn't got enough of this. However the oil has no other anti-oxidant in it and it can contain peroxides even if it smells ok. It is no good adding vit E in the form of tocopheryl acetate as this ester form has no anti-oxidant activity until it is de-esterified in the stomach. So I will be adding some BHT to the oil.
Manufacturers that sell the ester form of vit E packaged in gel capsules with sunflower oil ought to be shot, as the oil will still go rancid and erase any benefits! It took me a while to find a source of ester E in tablet form (no oils).
Recently I have been getting a mild tooth pain - I think it is my wisdom tooth on my lower left jaw (unfortunately same side as the carotid stenosis). Swishing with a mix of DMSO and colloidal silver seems to be keeping it at bay for now.