"You can reverse plaque in arteries," Dr. Alo

Yes — you can reverse arterial plaque.  Dr. Alo’s blog post explains how modern cardiology has overturned the old idea that plaque buildup is a one-way street. Nine key clinical trials using tiny cameras inside the arteries (IVUS, OCT, NIRS) prove that aggressive LDL cholesterol lowering can stop plaque growth and, in many cases, actually shrink it.

Full article on https://www.dralo.net/blog/reverse

The Big Takeaway

• Lower LDL = less plaque.

  
  

  Getting LDL below 70 mg/dL (ideally around 60 or for maximal plaque regression even below 40) is the magic zone where plaques start to regress instead of just stabilizing.

• The lower and faster you drop LDL, the more plaque shrinks — especially dangerous soft plaque with big lipid cores and thin caps that cause most heart attacks.

• High-intensity statins, adding ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors (like Repatha) all drive bigger reductions and better regression.

Key Trials in a Nutshell

• REVERSAL (2004): High-dose atorvastatin halted plaque growth; moderate statin did not.

• ESTABLISH (2004): Fastest regression ever — 13% plaque shrinkage in just 6 months right after a heart attack with aggressive statin therapy.

• ASTEROID (2006): First clear proof of regression — rosuvastatin 40 mg dropped LDL to ~61 mg/dL and shrank plaque in most patients.

• Later trials (SATURN, PRECISE-IVUS, GLAGOV, etc.): Adding ezetimibe or PCSK9 inhibitors produced even more regression. The lower the LDL, the better the results — no clear “floor” yet.

Bottom Line for PatientsPlaque regression is real and measurable when you get LDL very low. It’s not just about preventing new plaque — existing plaque can shrink, stabilize, and become less dangerous. The post emphasizes: Lower LDL is better, especially if you already have coronary disease. Lifestyle (diet, exercise, no smoking) helps, but most people need strong medications to hit the targets shown to reverse disease in these studies.Short version: Heart disease is reversible. Drive your ApoB/LDL as low as safely possible — the arteries will thank you.