The American Heart Association says that a healthy diet, free of trans fats and excess calories, is the best means for preventing cardiovascular disease. Along with a healthy lifestyle, scientific research has shown heart disease-reducing benefits from some herbal and nutritional supplements. Consult your doctor before using supplements for heart disease.
Pycnogenol and Coenzyme Q10
Combination therapy with Pycnogenol -- an antioxidant made from French maritime pine bark -- and coenzyme Q10 improved heart strength and physical endurance in heart failure patients, in a study published in the June 2010 "Panminerva Medica" journal. Participants, average age 61 years, took the combination supplement for 12 weeks. At the end of the study period, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate were significantly lower in the Pycnogenol and coenzyme Q10 group compared with a control group that did not receive the supplement. Also, a 22 percent improvement occurred in heart strength in the supplement group compared with a 4 percent improvement in the control group. The researchers concluded that Pycnogenol and coenzyme Q10 provide a viable option, with few side effects, for the treatment of heart failure.
Hawthorn
The medicinal herb hawthorn, Crataegus laevigata, decreases low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and markers for inflammation, according to a study published in the January 2000 issue of the journal "Phytomedicine." In the study, participants with diabetes and chronic coronary heart disease took 400 mg of hawthorn three times per day for six months. LDL cholesterol decreased by approximately 12 percent and an inflammatory enzyme known as neutrophil elastase decreased by 5 percent. The researchers concluded that hawthorn may be an appropriate adjunctive therapy for some patients with coronary heart disease.
Garlic
A study published in the October 2010 issue of the journal "Lipids in Health and Disease" found that garlic supplementation decreased cardiovascular risk by 1.5 times in men and 1.3 times in women. Study participants took time-released garlic powder tablets for 12 months. The researchers note that the primary benefit from the garlic supplement was a reduction in LDL cholesterol by 33 mg/dL in men and 27 mg/dL in women. The difference in results between men and women in the study sample group may have been due to a small number of participants in the study, say the researchers. The authors note that the high safety profile of garlic allows it to be used safely long term, which may be a particular advantage for coronary heart disease management.
Poll of Patients
A survey of more than 300 cardiac patients polled the most commonly used herbal and nutritional products. The study, published in the June 2003 journal "Annals of Pharmacotherapy," reported that 38 percent claimed to use single vitamin or mineral supplement, 23 percent used a multivitamin/mineral supplement and 17 percent used herbal remedies. Among herbal remedies, garlic, at 13 percent, was the most frequently used product followed by ginseng and cayenne pepper, used by 2 percent of those polled. Vitamin use included vitamin E, with 24 percent surveyed reporting use, vitamin C at 16 percent, calcium at 9 percent and 8 percent reported using B vitamins.
References
- "Panminerva Medica"; Investigation of Pycnogenol® in combination with coenzymeQ10 in heart failure patients (NYHA II/III). Belcaro G, et al. 2010
- "Phytomedicine"; Crataegus laevigata decreases neutrophil elastase and has hypolipidemic effect: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Dalli E, et al.; 2011
- "Lipids in Health and Disease"; The effects of time-released garlic powder tablets on multifunctional cardiovascular risk in patients with coronary artery disease. Sobenin IA, et al.; 2010
- "The Annals of Pharmacotherapy"; Use of OTC and herbal products in patients with cardiovascular disease. Pharand C, et al.; 2003
- American Heart Association: Vitamin and Mthatineral Supplements
