Plaquex

NatureMed Clinic Denver / Boulder

Plaquex
(Intravenous phosphatidylcholine/essential phospholipids)

Essential phospholipids (EPL) are a highly purified source of phosphatidylcholine isolated from soy beans. The substance is particularly rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, with linoleic acid accounting for approximately 70%. The action of EPL upon humans is an increase of HDL cholesterol and a decrease in LDL cholesterol, VLDL triglycerides and a reduced ratio of LDL/HDL cholesterol.

Intravenous and oral EPL has been used in patients who cannot tolerate conventional cholesterol drugs. In addition, EPL may provide cell protective and antioxidative action as well as an improve platelet and erythrocyte fluidity, thus decreasing blood viscosity, thrombosis (clot formation) and improving oxygen delivery.

Benefits on cholesterol:
In 100 patients, 6-month treatment with nicotinic acid or essential phospholipids (EPL) indicated comparable efficacy for both substances. Significant reduction of serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglyceride values were similar in both groups while nicotinic acid increased high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol significantly better than EPL. A detailed analysis of lipoprotein profiles, oxidized LDL and cholesterol-accepting properties of HDL in a small number of EPL- and nicotinic acid-treated patients revealed favorable shifts in the lipoprotein profile, significant reductions of oxidized LDL and favorable increases of the most protective HDL2b subfraction only in the EPL-treated group.

Clinically, both medications reduced the intensity and number of chest pain attacks per week, but only EPL-treated patients significantly increased their working capacity on the exercise test.
Since the nicotinic acid-treated group dropouts (nine patients, eight related to the drug) and side effects exceeded those in the EPL-treated group (two dropouts not related to the drug, no side effects), it was suggested that EPL is a preferable alternative in the treatment of patients with moderate hyperlipoproteinemia IIb and ischemic heart disease.

Reduction of arterial plaque:
A pilot study completed in 1989 kept track of the size of plaques by means of a real-time scanner covering sections of the superficial femoral artery as well as the carotid, iliac and popliteal artery. Fifteen patients with asymptomatic atherosclerosis were participating. At least one atheroma (site a plaque) had been diagnosed at one of the sites mentioned.
The participants took 2.7 g/d or oral PPC for at least one year. At the end of the observation period of more than 12 months the majority of the initial plaque volumes tended to stabilize after a transient initial rise. Larger initial volumes stabilized in most cases or showed a downward trend at the end of the 12-month observation period.

Improvement in symptoms:
In many cases patients experience an increase in their exercise tolerance without pain after taking EPL for many months. In a study by Almazov et al. the walking distance without stopping or requiring nitroglycerin was extended from 30-50 m to 3000 m in patients on EPL.
In a controlled trial by Itkina et al. on patients with atherosclerosis suffering from fatigue, decreased vitality, insomnia, chest pain, and palpitations treatment with EP improved symptoms to significant degree. Eighty-eight of the ninety-four patients reported a decrease in complaints and an increase in vitality.

These changes were more pronounced after 2 months of treatment than after 1 month. Six of the patients did not experience any improvement due to the severity of the disease. An increase in the physical and mental activity of the patients after EPL treatment was also observed by Idu et al.

Bibliography:

The antihyperlipemic and anti-atherogenic effectiveness of essential phospholipids (EPL) in the pharmacological test. Leuschner F et al, Arzneim Forsch (Drug Res) 26 (9A) (1976) 1743-1772

Essential phospholipids versus nicotinic acid in the treatment of patients with type IIb hyperlipoproteinemia and ischemic heart disease: Klimov AN et al, Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 9(6):779-84, 1995

Rodofsky, G. et al. in 50th Anniversary of Phospholipid Research. K.J. Gundermann, R. Schumacher (eds.) wbn: Bingen 1990 185-195.