Best and Worst Supplements | Health Tips

Best and Worst Supplements

According to a new meta-analysis published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, some supplements are better than others at reducing heart disease risk.

Using data from 884 studies and more than 883,000 patients, researchers at Brown University systematically reviewed all the existing evidence on micronutrients taken as dietary supplements. After evaluating 27 different types, they identified several that reduced the risk of cardiovascular problems like a heart attack or stroke, as well as others that offered no benefit or even had negative effects.

There Was Strong Evidence Of Heart Benefits.

Randomized controlled intervention trials included in the study found the strongest evidence of heart benefit in the following supplements:

  • Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil), which reduce mortality from cardiovascular diseases
  • Folic acid, which reduces stroke risk
  • Coenzyme Q10, marketed as CoQ10, has been shown to reduce all-cause mortality (death).

Other supplements that have shown evidence of reducing cardiovascular risk are omega-6 fatty acids, L-arginine, L-citrulline, vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, alpha-lipoic acid, melatonin, catechins, curcumin, flavonols, genistein, and quercetin.

  • Studies have shown that some supplements were not related to heart disease.
  • One particularly concerning finding: beta-carotene supplements were linked to increased all-cause mortality.
  • The study’s authors called for larger, high-quality interventional trials to investigate the long-term effects of specific micronutrients.
Antioxidant supplements are not synonymous with antioxidant-rich foods

Antioxidant supplements are thought to play a role in heart health because these nutrients work to reduce so-called “oxidative stress,” which is a known contributor to many types of cardiovascular disease. Programs such as the Mediterranean Diet and Dietary Approaches to Stop High Blood Pressure, which includes foods naturally rich in antioxidants, are both consistent with the latest American Heart Association dietary recommendations.

Interested in taking the supplement? First check with your doctor

Your provider may have suggestions about what to look for in the labeling. Or you can research different brands on independent websites like ConsumerLab.com, which reviews and rates supplements.

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