The inventor has discovered that supplementation with (−)-hydroxycitric acid, its salts and related compounds constitutes a novel means of inhibiting, reducing and regulating calcification of the blood vessels and other soft tissues and is useful for preventing, treating and ameliorating conditions involving soft tissue calcification. Such regulation offers benefits against arterial calcification and vascular diseases, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, the calcification of surgical stints, such as those containing elastin. These benefits of HCA are especially pronounced with the use of the preferred salts of the acid, potassium hydroxycitrate and potassium-magnesium hydroxycitrate, and may be further potentiated by the use of a controlled-release form of the compound. The discovery that HCA has calcium-regulating effects in the soft tissues allows for the creation of novel and more efficacious approaches to preventing and ameliorating cardiovascular diseases, arthritis and a variety of other conditions. Inasmuch as one element common to advancing years is an increased level of generalized calcification of the soft tissues, the invention lends itself to reducing or delaying this aspect of aging. Furthermore, this discovery makes possible the development of adjuvant modalities that can be used to improve the results realized with other treatment compounds while at the same time reducing the side effects normally found with such drugs. HCA delivered in the form of its potassium salt is efficacious at a daily dosage (bid or tid) of between 750 mg and 10 grams, preferably at a dosage of between 3 and 6 grams for most individuals. A daily dosage above 10 grams might prove desirable under some circumstances, such as with extremely large or resistant individuals, but this level of intake is not deemed necessary under normal conditions.
本发明者发现,补充(-)-羟基
柠檬酸、其盐类和相关化合物是抑制、减少和调节血管及其他软组织
钙化的一种新方法,可用于预防、治疗和改善涉及软组织
钙化的病症。这种调节可防治动脉
钙化和血管疾病、骨关节炎、类风湿性关节炎、外科缝合线(如含有
弹性蛋白的缝合线)的
钙化。使用
羟基柠檬酸钾和
羟基柠檬酸钾镁这两种优选的酸盐时,HCA 的这些益处尤为明显,使用控释形式的化合物可进一步增强其功效。HCA 在软组织中具有
钙调节作用,这一发现为预防和改善心血管疾病、关节炎和其他多种疾病提供了新颖、更有效的方法。随着年龄的增长,软组织普遍
钙化的程度也会增加,因此本发明可以减少或延缓这方面的衰老。此外,这一发现还使辅助治疗方法的开发成为可能,这些辅助治疗方法可用于改善其他治疗化合物的效果,同时减少此类药物通常会产生的副作用。以
钾盐形式提供的 HCA 每日用量(bid 或 tid)在 750 毫克到 10 克之间,对大多数人来说最好在 3 克到 6 克之间。在某些情况下,如体型巨大或抵抗力极强的人,每天摄入 10 克以上的剂量可能是可取的,但在正常情况下,这种摄入量被认为是不必要的。