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Alternative medicine

By Mayo Clinic staff

Dietary supplements that may be helpful for people with small vessel disease include:

  • Coenzyme Q10. This coenzyme, which is naturally present in your body, can improve blood pressure and circulation when taken as a supplement. Coenzyme Q10, taken in daily doses up to 200 milligrams, may improve small vessel blood flow in people with diabetes and coronary artery disease, and could have a similar effect in people with small vessel disease.
  • L-arginine. This amino acid that's normally used by the body to help metabolize protein may help treat symptoms of small vessel disease by relaxing your blood vessels.

As with any other alternative therapy, talk to your doctor before adding any supplements to your treatment to ensure that they won't interfere with any medications you're already taking.

References
  1. Lanza GA, et al. Primary coronary microvascular dysfunction: Clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and management. Circulation. 2010;121:2317.
  2. What is coronary microvascular disease? National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/cmd/cmd_all.html. Accessed July 10, 2010.
  3. Beltrame JF, et al. Advances in coronary microvascular dysfunction. Heart, Lung and Circulation. 2009;18:19.
  4. Camici PC, et al. Coronary microvascular dysfunction. New England Journal of Medicine. 2007;356:830.
  5. Lakhani K, et al. Microvascular dysfunction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Human Reproduction. 2005;20:3219.
  6. Topcu S, et al. Metformin therapy improves coronary microvascular function in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome and insulin resistance. Clinical Endocrinology. 2006;65:75.
  7. Foster W, et al. Inflammation and microvascular and macrovascular endothelial dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis: Effect of treatment. The Journal of Rheumatology. 2010;37:711.
  8. Kurth T, et al. Migraine and ischaemic vascular events. Cephalalgia. 2007;27:965.
  9. Coenzyme Q10. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 11, 2010.
  10. Littarru GP, et al. Clinical aspects of coenzyme Q10: An update. Nutrition. 2010;26:250.
  11. Hamilton SJ, et al. Coenzyme Q10 improves endothelial dysfunction in statin-treated type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetes Care. 2009;32:810.
  12. L-arginine. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed July 11, 2010.
DS01080 Oct. 14, 2010

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