Vitamins For A Fast Heartbeat

Arrhythmias, or a very fast and rapid beating heart, and high blood pressure are often indicative of heart disease. Your heart rate is a primary determinant of your blood pressure, according to Eastern Michigan University. Rapid and quick heartbeats, defined as greater than 150 beats per minute, may contribute to inadequate functioning of the heart. When the heart does not function efficiently, the brain and other vital organs may not receive the blood and oxygen supply needed to carry out bodily tasks. Consuming adequate amounts of vitamin D, vitamin C and the B vitamins can help the heart function more efficiently.

Vitamin D

Low levels of vitamin D in the body are associated with high blood pressure, according to a 2011 study published in the "Journal of General Internal Medicine." High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, means your heart is pumping large quantities of blood and working less efficiently. African Americans and other dark-skinned individuals often possess significantly lower levels of vitamin D and higher blood pressure rates than their Caucasian counterparts. Individuals with dark skin have difficulty synthesizing vitamin D, since vitamin D is generated via the skin from direct sunlight. Thirty minutes of daily sunlight, milk fortified with vitamin D or a daily supplement with 800 IU of vitamin D are good sources of this vitamin.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C aids in the synthesis of collagen, a building block for bodily tissues, such as blood vessels and tendons. Additionally, according to the Linus Pauling Institute, vitamin C helps convert cholesterol into bile acids, which is directly linked to your blood cholesterol levels. According to a 2008 study published in the "European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation," a diet rich in vitamin C is associated with decreased risk of heart disease. Regular consumption of foods with high vitamin C content, or more than 500 mg per day, can decrease high blood pressure in as little as four weeks and may reverse vessel constriction among individuals with atherosclerosis. Good food sources of vitamin C include oranges, apples, grapefruit, strawberries, kiwi, tomatoes and potatoes.

Folic Acid and Vitamin B12

According to a 2001 study published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association," folic acid and vitamin B12 are economical treatments to reduce the risk of heart disease. In this study, folic acid decreased homocysteine levels by 25 percent and by an additional 7 percent when vitamin B12 was added. Homocysteine is an amino acid associated with animal protein. When this amino acid is mildly elevated, you are at risk of damaging the lining of your arteries by accumulating plaque, which leads to high blood pressure and eventually heart disease. Good sources of folic acid include spinach, enriched grains, egg yolks, asparagus and beans. Vitamin B12 sources include fish, eggs, milk, enriched cereals and poultry products.

Vitamin B6

Like the other B vitamins, vitamin B6 aids in breaking down homocysteine, which contributes to blocked arteries and elevated blood pressure. Vitamin B6 contains a coenzyme, pyroxidol phosphate, aiding in maximum protein metabolism. Vitamin B6 deficiencies are common among the aging population. In a sample of 1,100 elderly participants, 29 percent of the participants over the age of 60 and 40 percent of the participants over the age of 80 possessed increased homocysteine levels, according to the University of Massachusetts. Among every case with elevated homosysteine levels, a vitamin B6 deficiency was discovered. Good food sources of vitamin B6 include wheat germ, fish, eggs, peanuts and poultry.