High Lp(a) damages arteries by disrupting an enzyme that produces protective nitric oxide, instead triggering harmful free radicals. A ketogenic diet may reverse this by restoring the enzyme's function and reducing oxidative stress in blood vessels.
Could a ketogenic diet reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with Lp? Well, breaking news science found how Lp can contribute to cardiovascular disease. What it does is it sneaks inside the artery and contributes to a process called oxidative stress. It does so in a fascinating way. Basically, there's this enzyme, it's called eNOS, and eNOS usually makes good things for blood vessels called nitric oxide that helps blood vessels relax, keeps them healthy. But what Lp does is it changes levels of a helper molecule called BH4. This leads eNOS to uncouple, break down. It's kind of like Lp transforming this helpful enzyme into an evil form. So rather than making nitric oxide, it makes something called superoxide. But here's the kicker. There are ways by which a ketogenic diet can reverse this process, boost levels of the helper molecule, decrease superoxide, potentially negating the negative effects of Lp inside blood vessels. I know that was a lot, but hopefully I got your synapses firing.
