Diet that maintains glycemic index and has high antioxidants might seize the progression coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with diabetes. Impact of low calorie, high antioxidant food from reverse diet kit (12-week regime) in a 51-year-old CAD patient with diabetes is studied here. The reverse diet kit (RDK) contained pre-portion ready to cook food products that fulfil daily requirements of all mealtimes. Primary assessments: serum blood sugar levels and plaque characteristic changes determined by coronary CT angiography (CTA) at 12-weeks vs. baseline. Weight reduction of 9kg at the end of RDK intervention was observed. Blood sugar levels decreased significantly from 250mg/dl to 109mg/dl. A change of 124mm3 in total atheroma plaque volume (TAV) post-intervention vs. baseline was observed in four major arteries. The mean (SD) of TAV at baseline in LAD, LCX, and RCA (mm3) was found to reduce from 128.5, 98.5 and 381.1 to 113.7, 53.7 and 316.4 respectively. A clinically notable impact of RDK viz. good glycemic control and reduced plaque volume at 12-week is seen in CAD patient with diabetes.

There has been a rapid emergence of literature that underline diabetes and CAD associated events. This led to a growing consensus on the number of common precursors shared by them, which are metabolically linked and are often known to occur together in the same individual.[1,2] Cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, physical inactivity, which are also common in patients with diabetes are implicated to play a major role in plaque formation.[3] Impaired glycemic control is another feature which is known to cause an increased risk of cardiac events in diabetic patients. However, several studies have shown that oxidative stress is the important pathogenic link between inflammation and atherosclerosis, especially in the setting of obesity and associated co-morbidities of diabetes.[4] It is found that pathophysiological events due to oxidative stress within the arterial wall leading to the development of atherosclerosis and further amplified by obesity-induced adverse alterations in the adipose tissue.[4,5] Atherosclerosis begins with the retention of LDL in the vessel with subsequent oxidative modification of LDL and leads to the formation of foam cells. This further trigger an inflammatory cascade, and plaque progression. The above molecular and cellular events thus promote atheroma formation by incorporation of dendritic cells and T cells into the lumen by adhesion molecules. Thus, in the arterial wall, the detrimental effect of inflammation and oxidative stress synergize to accelerate the progression of atheroma plaque formation.[5]

Treatment modalities viz. drug therapies and surgical interventions, used to treat these conditions, are often associated with higher procedural risk and poorer long-term outcomes.[6] These therapies thus prove to be inadequate, as they fail to address the most proximal determinants for progression of atherosclerotic CAD, which includes poor-quality diet patterns, unhealthy lifestyle choices, physical inactivity, and obesity. [7,8]

We, therefore, hypothesized that even though medications form the cornerstone treatment for CAD and diabetes management, nutritionally balanced and energy-controlled diet kit along with regular exercise might support in combating the disease progression.

This case report is a 12-week follow up experiment demonstrating the impact of a scientifically designed diet box, 'reverse diet kit' on CAD progression. The kit contains pre-portion food products that fulfil the daily requirement of breakfast, lunch, dinner, soup and early morning diet options.

A 51-year-old male with a known history of diabetes for 10-11 years, had an acute coronary event on 30th October 2019, further investigation with angiography on the same day suggested Triple Vessel Disease (TVD) with 80-100% narrowing in all three epicardial branches of the coronary artery. The patient was advised acoronary artery by-pass graft (CABG). The patient refused for immediate surgery and was discharged. He opted for dietary modification. Before going through this intervention, we decided to perform Coronary CTA with plaque volumetric analysis. The patient was fully informed of the objectives, potential risks and discomforts of the study in his first language following which he provided written informed consent to participate.

Coronary CTA has emerged as an effective and promising non-invasive imaging modality to diagnose CAD.[9,10]  It allows evaluation of coronary plaque burden and its compositions.[11] This further has important clinical implications, with a significant association of plaque components with the prediction of adverse cardiac events and prognosis.[12] Although IVUS is considered to be the gold standard for the assessment of the distribution and severity of coronary plaque composition,[13] it is an invasive procedure which may not be suitable for every patient or isn’t commonly performed in routine clinical practice and thus may be limited to research studies. However, head to head comparison of coronary CTA with IVUS in a meta-analysis review by Fischer C et al. presented a high correlation between total plaque volumes, plaque area, percentage of area stenosis, within the overall cohort in forty-two studies that evaluated 1360 patients depicting no significant differences between the two methods.[14]

Comparison between coronary CTA and IVUS, confirms the diagnostic accuracy of CTA in the quantitative assessment and characterisation of coronary plaque volume. Therefore, the current study used CTA as an imaging technique.

Method of coronary CTA and its reporting: In the present study, to determine the pre and post plaque volume of the three major branches of the coronary artery, coronary CTA was performed. Coronary CTA was done after IV injection of non-ionic contrast using ECG gating.

All post-processing of coronary CTA data was performed by imaging experts who were familiar with cardiac anatomy and pathology using dedicated software. Initially, the source images (i.e. raw data) were reconstructed using the data acquisition algorithm. The resulting transverse (i.e. axial) images were then subjected to post-processing techniques like maximum intensity projections (MIP), multi-planar reformations (MPR), curved MPR and volume rendering technique (VRT) reformations.

Metabolic assessment: The baseline (on enrolment/ before starting diet intervention) patients’ anthropometric measurements were noted down. Laboratory assessments like blood sugar levels, blood pressure and heart ratewere carried out. Total atheroma volume, calcified and non-calcified plaque volume, lumen volume, length of the artery and artery volume and calcium volume were measuredusing coronary CT angiography. Change in atheroma volume was also calculated.

The patient was prescribed with Atorvastatin (10mg), Clopidogrel (75mg), Aspirin (75mg), 5mg of isosorbide dinitrate, glimepiride and metformin in 500 mg and 1 mg combination at the beginning of the reverse diet kit intervention. Thereafter, the patient was started on a 12-week intervention wherein along with the prescribed medicines, he was asked to incorporate an antioxidant-rich, anti-inflammatory and low-caloriedieti. e. a scientifically designed‘ reverse diet kit’ in his daily routine. Over the 12-week study, the patient followed a weekly diet plan (Table 1) which was prepared as per his calorific requirements. A well-designed diet plan allowed to carefully control the energy and macronutrient requirements (Table 2) of the patient.

Diet: Carbohydrate recommendations via reverse diet kit focused on low glycaemic index sources as it helps in weight loss, reduction of inflammation, reduction of triglycerides and high-density lipoproteins and thus helps in the improvement of vessel health. The diet also consisted of foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E. Reverse diet kit had high Oxidative Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) unit i.e. 64,000 per day which will keep the antioxidant system of the body switched on for 24 by 7.

To encourage a reduction in weight through a combination of decreased energy intake and increased energy expenditure, along with the diet, less aerobic exercise regime was designed and he was instructed to walk daily. Adjustments in nutritional intake and the intensity of exercise performed during the intervention were kept in check daily to accommodate the target energy deficit, which was set according to the rate of body composition change over the 12-week study.

Daily monitoring was the critical factor of the study wherein the patient was asked to share pictures of his diet plate to track the partition size and other details of his breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our dietician was continuously in touch with the patient to accomplish a hundred per cent compliance to diet and lifestyle. Weight was measured every day and blood pressure was recorded before and after the walking regime. Furthermore, blood sugar levels were analysed within a span of every three days. Total atheroma volume, calcified and non-calcified plaque volume, lumen volume, length of the artery and artery volume and calcium volume were then assessed again at the end of week 12 using coronary CT angiography.

Overall, the 12-week intervention of reverse diet kit in combination with exercise contributed to the holistic well-being of the patient. Demographic and biochemical data of the patient from baseline to latest is depicted in Table 3. After the end of the 12-week, there was a noteworthy reduction by 9kg in the weight of the patient. Blood sugar levels were found to decrease from 250ml/dl to 109mg/dl and also blood pressure dropped from 170/80mmHg to 52/3mmHg.

However, clinically significant observation of the present study was a change of 124mm3 in total atheroma plaque volume (TAV) where in the mean (SD) baseline value of 608.1mm3 declined to 484.1mm3 (20.39

Atheroma is a multifaceted process that is associated with factors, such as wall shear stress, calcium volume, coronary calcium inflammation, endothelial dysfunction. [15,16] Recent studies have shown that changes in coronary plaque volume and lumen diameter have led to new insights into the risk stratification related to disease progression.[17]

In the present study, carbohydrate recommendations via the reverse diet kit, focused on low glycaemic index sources as it helps in weight loss, reduction of inflammation, reduction of triglycerides and high-density lipoproteins thereby aiding the improvement of vessel health. However, the role of statins (or lipid lowering drugs) to induce actual regression in atheroma burden was elusive till the ASTEROID trial. The trial was successful in showing statistically significant regression in atheroma burden due to statin administration as assessed by IVUS.6 Current case report shows an interesting outcome wherein there is significant regression in total atheroma volume and at the same time the patient was off statin therapy post 100% compliance to the reverse diet kit described in this study.

On the other hand, oxidative stress is known to initiate a cascade of vascular events like endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and thrombus formation which further leads to atheroma progression. [18,19] Therefore the patient was provided with vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E rich sources that increased his anti-oxidant capacity to kill toxic product generated; like pro-inflammatory products and free radicals. Vitamin C is known to reduce vessel damage by providing adequate collagen synthesis and improving immunity. Vitamin E is also known to reduce oxidation and maintain the health of vessels. Several large-scale clinical studies have observed that an increased antioxidant level is an important factor in limiting the risk of cardiovascular events associated to CAD.[20] High dietary intakes of vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene are associated with a lower risk of CAD and showcase improved life expectancy which is supported by increasing evidence from trials using antioxidant supplements.[21]In a randomized, controlled clinical trial performed on a total of 2002 patients with angiographically-proven CAD, it was observed that with an overall risk reduction of 47%., the combined end-point of non-fatal myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death, was prevented with vitamin E supplementation.[22]

The diet consisted of foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids to help reduce the production of inflammatory products and the process of inflammation. [23]

One potential reason why there was a significant reduction in the parameters associated with CAD progression might be due to the additional properties of the reverse kit diet food which consists of high Oxidative Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) unit i.e. 64,000 per day. The daily requirement of a normal individual is 12000 ORAC unit whereas conventional food can serve 3000-4000 ORAC value.

Food prepared using reverse diet kit helped the antioxidant system of the patient to be active. The kit had added advantage that reduced endothelial dysfunction and cessation of atherosclerotic plaque progression. Daily intake of 1000Kcal diet made the patient calorie deficit. Ultimately to meet the normal requirement of 1500 Kcal/ day, body fats were utilised that lead to a reduction in visceral obesity. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action of foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids may have helped in activating cholesterol reversal transport system and in turn reduced plaque volume from its baseline.

Furthermore, foods like pomegranate, garlic and fibre rich low carbohydrate food enhanced the defence mechanism against pro-inflammatory products, inflammation [24] and led to the reversal of progressing disease. It also helped in increased blood flow and a reduction in plaque formation.

The diet kit being anti-inflammatory and having high anti-oxidant capacity might have helped in the reversal of disease progression, and thereby improved vessel health, reduced plaque volume and improved blood flow. Reverse diet kit thus led to atheroma regression to a significant level and also enabled tapering of concomitant medications through diet management.

This single case report has shown a notable decrease in CAD progression and diabetes determinants. This promising outcome of the use of Reverse Diet Kit needs to be underlined in a larger blinded trial which may make the diet kit a complementary therapy to the mainstream allopathy.

Authors would like to acknowledge Madhavbaug Clinic for the recruitment of the patient for the study and other technical support required for the study. Authors also acknowledge Dr Sandhya Nambiar for writing assistance and Ms Poonam Pawar for additional editorial support.

The authors declare that the content of this paper has not been published elsewhere and is not currently under consideration by any another journal or publisher. The paper’s publication content has been approved by all the other co-authors and declare that there is no conflict of interest.