My CAC score

#1

I had an Angiogram and Calcium score last week and the results are in.
My cardiologist tells me that my CAC is 40 and that it should be zero.
In addition, my cholesterol is “high” at 7.3 ( HDL 1.8/ LDL 5.1/ Tri’s 0.9).
Again, as she always does, she urges me to agree to take a statin and I, as I always do, say no!
She tells me that my CAC puts me in the 93rd percentile compared to aged match controls ( I am 53) and that 78% of people my age would have a zero score.
So, I’ve been low carb for a couple of years. I dont eat processed foods, I dont drink alcohol, I dont smoke, I am no longer ‘Pre diabetic’ thanks to my low carb lifestyle and my latest A1C of 5.2.

Hoping that someone can interpret my result in “no bullshit” speak.
If I need to improve to calcium score, how can I achieve this?

(Brian) #2

Have you looked into vitamin K2 supplements? I’ve been told that K2 is helpful in getting calcium into the places it’s supposed to be. I’m sure others will know more than me, though.

(bulkbiker) #3

Wow are you me?
My CAC Score was 40 … cholesterol is 7.3 although HDL 1.6 Trigs 1.3 at last test…

I thought that after my youth spent smoking, drinking to excess and being over weight for years 40 was quite good.
I would love for mine to be zero but it isn’t…
My main concern is that it doesn’t get any worse… I’m putting my faith into Keto but will see when I have another one in a couple of years time if that is true.
I haven’t heard of any ways of reducing it although would be willing to give anything a try (within reason… virgin blood or monkeys brains probably not although probably keto!)

(Adam Kirby) #4

As far as I understand, which is not very much, you’re more looking for the progression of your CAC score. So get it tested again in the future and see how it has changed. It is very possible before low carb it would have been higher.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #5

Your trig-to-HDL ratio is very good, so I would say to stand firm on not taking the statin.

With a calcium score of 40, your risk of having a heart attack over the next 10 years is somewhere around 2-6%.

If you keep on with the ketogenic way of eating, your arterial plaque should begin to reverse itself, if it isn’t doing so already. If you have an earlier calcium score to compare with, and the 40 you got this time is lower than the earlier score, you are fine. Otherwise, get another scan done in a few months to see if the calcium is going down. Niacin, D3, and omega-3 in the diet should help, as well as maintaining your excellent trig/HDL ratio. Do you know what your blood pressure and CRP numbers are? If they are in the right range, you are okay, even with this calcium score.

#6

I’ve not had a CAC score previously, so nothing to compare to, but I’ve NO doubt whatsoever that it would have been higher.
Years of high BP, being overweight, extreme stress, processed food…would have been way higher.
My BP is stable now (@112/85)
CRP - I don’t have the blood tests results on me this minute- will add them later.
According to my test results, I have a “very low atherosclerotic burden”, “small soft plaques” and “small flecks of calcium”.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #7

Won’t it be fun when you’ve been keto long enough for your plaques to go away, and your doctor can’t find anything to obsess about?

There are a few doctors on these forums. Unless one of them says anything different, I would assume you’re in really good shape.

#8

Thanks for the replies. Very helpful in putting my mind at ease.
I guess the hope is that over time, my calcium score will be lower!
I know Butter Bob got a shock when his was higher than he had envisaged.
Just thought there may be ways of lowering it ,other than what I’m already doing. I may already have done that, as god knows what it was before!?