The Atherosclerosis Reversal Clinic: The Way of the Future

Abstract

Clinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of rigorous exercise¹, diet² or aggressive drug therapy³ to facilitate the regression of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that an intensive, integrated approach to cardiovascular risk reduction utilizing strict dietary and exercise requirements, and, when necessary, adjunctive pharmacotherapy to aggressively reduce all modifiable risk factors is a more effective way to induce regression of atherosclerosis and achieve normalization of endothelial function than diet, exercise, or drug therapy alone. To test this hypothesis, we implemented the Atherosclerosis Reversal Clinic (ARC) program in January, 1998.