Martha Stewart – Living
These Are the 3 Supplements That Actually Boost Heart Health, New Study Shows
Nashia Baker – December 13, 2022
Jay Yuno / Getty Images
To live a long, active life, it’s important to care for your heart. And while that absolutely involves excellent nutrition and regular exercise, new research has discovered that you can further boost your heart health with three types of supplements. A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, which reviewed 900 clinical trials and 27 types of micronutrients, found that there are certain supplements that have the biggest impact on the heart: They include omega-3 fatty acids, folic acid, and the antioxidant coenzyme Q10, Insider reports.
Per the research, omega-3 fatty acids, also known as fish oil, lower mortality risks from heart disease, while folic acid cuts an individual’s chances of experiencing a stroke. The antioxidant coenzyme Q10 reduces mortality risks from cardiovascular disease overall.
The team’s broad approach to supplement research helped them determine the best ones for heart health, said Simin Liu, MD, MS, MPH, ScD, professor of epidemiology and medicine at Brown University and a lead researcher for the study. “Research on micronutrient supplementation has mainly focused on the health effects of a single or a few vitamins and minerals,” Liu said. “We decided to take a comprehensive and systematic approach to evaluate all the publicly available and accessible studies reporting all micronutrients, including phytochemicals and antioxidant supplements, and their effects on cardiovascular risk factors as well as multiple cardiovascular diseases.”
Beta carotene, a naturally occurring pigment, proved to be a supplement that did not benefit the heart, the researchers’ findings uncovered. The pigment converts to vitamin A in the body, and can boost heart disease risks based on its toxicity; it can also cause bone aches, nausea, and hair loss, according to the US Preventive Services Task Force. The team also reported that vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and selenium all had no direct correlation to reducing the risks of long-term cardiovascular disease.