Heart failure is a condition where the heart cannot pump enough blood to other organs. It can be caused by a variety of things including high blood pressure and heart disease, and some common symptoms include shortness of breath, ankle swelling, coughing and exercise intolerance. Certain dietary supplements may play a supporting role in the treatment of heart failure, however it is a serious condition and you should not take any new supplement without first consulting with your health care practitioner.
Magnesium
According to the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition, the mineral magnesium is vital for heart health, it tends to be below normal in HF individuals, and convention drug therapy used to treat HF has been found to deplete magnesium stores further. To correct this deficiency, CSNN recommends taking 200 to 300 mg, one to three times daily, and in the form of magnesium citrate for maximum absorbability.
Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10, or CoQ10 is an antioxidant compound found in the mitochondria, which is the energy producing part of your body's cells. CoQ10 is vital for the production of energy, and it is needed for muscle contractions and for numerous other important biological processes to take place. The University of Maryland Medical Center, or UMM, says that several studies suggest that supplementing with CoQ10 can help to reduce swelling in the legs, enhance breathing, and increase exercise capacity. UMM warns that not all studies have concluded this however, and more research needs to be done to say conclusively whether or not CoQ10 can produce all of those purported effects. CSNN says that regardless of its ability to directly treat heart failure symptoms, CoQ10 is a powerful antioxidant and immune system supporter, and people with heart failure are often low in it. As such, CSNN recommends taking 100 to 300 mg of CoQ10 daily with food.
Amino Acids
L-carnitine is an amino acid that helps the body turn fat into energy and it is stored in the heart, skeletal muscles and brain. UMM says that more research needs to be done but some preliminary studies have shown that l-carnitine supplements can reduce symptoms of heart failure and increase exercise capacity. As such, CSNN recommends taking 500 mg of l-carnitine, three times daily. L-taurine is another amino acid, and it is the most abundant amino acid in the heart. CSNN says that it improves the force of contraction in a weakened heart and helps to lower blood pressure. Take L-taurine as directed on the bottle.
Thiamin
Thiamin, or B-1, is a B vitamin that helps to reduce stress and strengthen the immune system. UMM says that thiamine supplements may be particularly beneficial to individuals who have heart failure caused by "wet beriberi," which is condition where fluid builds up around the heart. Also, many heart failure sufferers take diuretics in order to rid their body's of extra fluid, but diuretics deplete the body of thiamine, and CSNN says that many heart failure patients are deficient in this vitamin. CSNN therefore recommends taking 200 to 250 mg of thiamin daily, with food.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Herbs and Supplements for Congestive Heart Failure
- "Pathology and Nutrition"; The Canadian School of Natural Nutrition; Lilieana Stradler Mitrea; 2008
