Reversing Artery Plaque: 8 Supplements Ranked by the Evidence | Simon Hill, MSc

Can a supplement actually reverse the plaque in your arteries, or only slow it down? It is the question I am asked most, and after a 2024 scan revealed early plaque in my own left anterior descending artery, it became a personal one too.

This is part two of my three-part series on reversing atherosclerosis. In this solo episode I work through eight of the most popular supplements and rank them by the strength of the human evidence, not the strength of the marketing.

What we cover:

Why pure EPA has by far the strongest evidence for regressing plaque, and what EVAPORATE, CHERRY, JELIS, and REDUCE-IT showed

The REDUCE-IT versus STRENGTH debate, and why the form of omega-3 may matter as much as the dose

Aged garlic extract and vitamin K2: what the imaging and calcification data suggest

Niacin and the biomarker trap: raising "good" cholesterol without lowering risk

Where CoQ10, berberine, nattokinase, and pomegranate extract really sit, plus a fact-check of a popular nattokinase claim

My own plan after that scan, and a preview of part three on the pharmaceuticals

Only one of these eight has strong evidence behind it, and even then it is a prescription rather than a tub from the supplement aisle. Supplements can be useful additions, but never a replacement for the proven basics.

You can see exactly what I take over at my personal supplement stack.

If you are enjoying the series, the simplest way to help is to leave a quick rating and review on Apple Podcasts, and to share this episode with someone whose heart health you care about.