Healthcare providers agree that being physically active, eating nutritious foods, reducing stress, and maintaining a healthy weight are all important components of a heart-healthy lifestyle. The role supplements for heart health play can often be confusing.

There are seven nutrients that can be a good addition to a heart-healthy lifestyle:. A discussion with your healthcare team or your pharmacist can help you to avoid any unexpected side effects.

Fatty fish—such as sardines, mackerel, and salmon—is full of omega-3 fatty acids and has been associated with lowering triglycerides, blood pressure, inflammation, along with reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. In addition to fish, flaxseed oil, chia seeds, walnuts, and canola oil are also high in omega-3s.

A target dose of 1 gram per day of an omega-3 supplement is considered a good place to start. However, some physicians may advise their patients to increase their dosage if they have very high levels of triglycerides. Originally approved by the FDA in to reduce triglycerides, Vascepa received an additional indication approval in as an adjunct therapy for reducing cardiovascular risk.

Vascepa is made from a highly-purified form of EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid found in fish. It is the first FDA-approved drug to reduce cardiovascular risk among patients with elevated triglyceride levels as an add-on to statin therapy.

Low magnesium levels have been linked to high blood pressure, plaque buildup, and high cholesterol. Malkin says. One study showed that magnesium also helped to lower blood pressure by up to 12 points, decrease the risk of heart attack , and to improve insulin resistance.

A carbohydrate found in our bodies, Sirchio-Lotus says inositol can also help blood sugar control by improving insulin sensitivity. One study found that women who took 4 grams of inositol each day improved their insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels—all factors that can decrease your risk of heart disease.

This B vitamin has been shown to lower heart attack and stroke risk in people with high blood pressure. One study found that folic acid, taken on a daily basis, could reduce the risk of stroke. Certain medications—such as Rheumatrex methotrexate , used to treat autoimmune disorders, or seizure drugs such as Dilantin phenytoin —can also affect how the body absorbs folate.

Talk to your physician before starting a folate supplement and to determine the best dosage. For those diagnosed with early stage high blood pressure prehypertension , research has shown that high doses of grape seed extract GSE may effectively lower blood pressure.

Full of antioxidants, the study found that taking mg—mg of GSE daily for eight to 16 weeks significantly reduced blood pressure. While CoQ10 appears naturally in the body, you can also boost your intake by including foods such as salmon, tuna, broccoli, and cauliflower in your diet.

For those already taking cholesterol-lowering statin medication, Sirchio-Lotus, says adding a CoQ10 supplement can reduce the muscle aches and joint pain some people experience as a side effect of statins.

Some research shows CoQ10 may help to lower blood pressure, while another recent study found that people with high triglycerides, high cholesterol, and a history of heart attack saw an improvement in both their LDL and HDL cholesterol levels and blood pressure after taking mg of CoQ10 daily for 12 weeks.

According to Dr. Malkin, vitamin D can benefit both your heart and overall health by protecting bones, increasing energy, and regulating insulin levels. While there is no evidence that the daily use of fiber supplements causes any harm, they may cause some side effects such as bloating and gas.

The Mayo Clinic also recommends that if you have a history of Crohn's disease or a bowel blockage in your past, you should talk to your doctor before taking fiber supplements. If you're not getting enough magnesium , you might suffer from heart palpitations.

That's because magnesium helps your body maintain a steady heartbeat and lower blood pressure. A lack of this mineral can also cause fatigue, a loss of appetite, muscle spasms, nausea and a general feeling of weakness, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

If you want to boost your magnesium levels naturally, eat whole grains and dark-green, leafy vegetables. You can also get magnesium from low-fat milk, yogurt, soybeans, baked beans, peanuts, almonds and cashews.

You can also obtain your daily magnesium from supplements, though medical professionals recommend eating magnesium-rich foods as a better option.

If you have end stage liver or kidney disease, you should be especially careful about consuming too much magnesium, particularly through dietary supplements, because too much of this mineral could prove toxic. It is very rare to consume excess magnesium from food. It is more likely to be from over-supplementation.

Coenzyme Q10 -- or CoQ10 -- is an antioxidant that your body produces on its own. However, the levels of CoQ10 that you produce drop as you get older. The Mayo Clinic says that people who suffer heart disease often have lower levels of CoQ You can take dietary supplements, though, to increase your levels of this antioxidant.

As the Mayo Clinic says, you can take CoQ10 supplements in the form of capsules, chewable tablets, liquid and powders. CoQ10 has been shown to improve the conditions that reduce the risk of congestive heart failure, according to the Mayo Clinic.

It might also help to lower your blood pressure. It might even help people, when combined with other nutrients, who have had heart valve and bypass surgeries.

The Mayo Clinic says that CoQ10 supplements come with few, and usually mild, symptoms, including loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea and upper abdominal pain. Avoid taking CoQ10 if you are taking Coumadin Warfarin. Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, can help maintain the right level of homocysteine in your blood, when it is used in conjunction with vitamins B6 and B That's important: High levels of homocysteine -- an amino acid -- is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.

Folic acid supplementation does not decrease the risk of heart disease but helps to provide protection from heart disease such as stroke. The CDC also advises women who might get pregnant to get micrograms of folic acid every day.

That's because this B vitamin helps prevent birth defects. The Mayo Clinic says that the best source of folic acid is a diet rich in dark-green leafy vegetables, beans, peas and nuts. You'll get plenty of folic acid in fruits such as oranges, lemons, bananas, melons and strawberries too. You can also get folic acid in its synthetic form in vitamins and in foods fortified with the vitamin, such as cereals and pastas.

The Mayo Clinic recommends folic acid supplements for people who have poor diets or conditions that interfere with their body's ability to absorb folate. Folic acid supplements have mild side effects such as nausea, loss of appetite, confusion and irritability.

You might also experience sleep interruptions after taking folic acid supplements. The most common form of heart healthy supplements, such as folic acid, magnesium and fiber, come with mild side effects.

But if you have certain health issues, such as kidney disease, Crohn's disease or issues with blood clotting, you should discuss supplements with your doctor before taking them. It's important to note, too, that the best way to get minerals and vitamins is through a healthy diet.

Medical professionals recommend diets high in seafood, leafy green vegetables, beans, fruit and lean meats. If you eat the proper diet, you usually won't need to take any supplements.

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However, a review suggested that calcium supplements might be linked to a higher risk of heart trouble, so talk to your doctor before taking calcium supplements.

Iron is an essential mineral that helps your body build red blood cells. It comes in two forms: heme found in meat and seafood and nonheme found in plant foods as well as meat and seafood. All adult men and women over age 51 should consume 8 mg of iron a day, while women ages 19 to 50 need 18 mg, according to the NIH.

And untreated iron-deficiency anemia can cause your heart to work to harder, which can in turn cause irregular heartbeats or even heart failure , according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

But you can have too much of a good thing. A study found a possible link between too much iron consumption, especially from red meat, and a higher risk of atherosclerosis , a buildup of plaque inside the arteries. That said, if you eat a lot of iron and are predisposed to storing too much iron, then getting extra vitamin C might actually be detrimental, says DiNicolantonio.

Be sure to talk to your doctor about your iron and vitamin C intake. These B vitamins work together to lower the levels of homocysteine, an amino acid linked to heart disease when it builds up in excess, he says. A study even suggested that higher intake of folate and vitamin B6 was associated with a lower risk of coronary heart disease in a general population.

You can find vitamin B6 in spinach; eggs, poultry, and milk contain vitamin B Some people might also benefit from well-formulated B-complex supplements with activated or whole-food forms of B-vitamins, says DiNicolantonio, as some individuals carry genetic MTHFR mutations that may limit their ability to process homocysteine.

Just be sure to talk to your doctor before adding a supplement. Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat that can help keep your heart healthy, particularly if you have heart disease. There are three main types of omega-3s: eicosapentaenoic acid EPA and docosahexaenoic acid DHA , which are famously found in fish, including salmon, mackerel, and albacore tuna; and alpha-linolenic acid ALA , which is found in certain plants and plant oils, like flaxseed and canola, according to the NIH.

One of the easiest ways to increase your intake of omega-3s is by eating fish, which contain EPA and DHA — both of which are more easily absorbed by the body than ALA, says the NIH. However, according to a survey from , as many as 10 percent of Americans say they are vegetarian or vegan — meaning that fish are literally off the table.

Minerals like magnesium and zinc and vitamins like vitamin C and B vitamins all help to convert ALA into fatty acids like EPA and DHA, says DiNicolantonio. Add some flaxseeds to your next salad, or sprinkle some chia seeds into your smoothie, both of which are rich in ALA.

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DailyOM Courses. About DailyOM Most Popular Courses New Releases Trending Courses See All. Heart Health. By Julie Stewart. Medically Reviewed. Roxana Ehsani, RD, LDN. Pair Vitamin B6 With Magnesium to Boost Your Heart Health The mineral magnesium , found in nuts and seeds, may help regulate your blood pressure, keep your arteries from hardening, and keep your heart rhythm regular.

A Healthy Balance of Sodium and Potassium Can Help Regulate Your Blood Pressure These essential minerals work together like yin and yang to regulate many bodily functions, including blood pressure.

Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. Resources Magnesium. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. June 2, Facts About Hypertension. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 15, How Much Sodium Should I Eat Per Day?

American Heart Association. November 1, Dietary Guidelines for Americans: — [PDF]. Department of Agriculture. December March 22, Vitamin D. Supplements are beneficial when they are used to address existing deficiencies. This may include common deficiencies like iron and vitamin D.

Deficiencies can be identified via a blood test. Plant sterols have been found to lower total and LDL-cholesterol levels, though not to the same degree as statins. Therefore, plant sterol-fortified foods may be beneficial as one part of an overall strategy to manage high cholesterol levels.

Fibre has many benefits for heart health. As the average Australian consumes less than the recommended daily fibre intake, an appropriate fibre supplement may be beneficial for those who struggle to get enough fibre through food , or for those who have specific digestive needs e.

people with IBS and other digestive disorders. This is of particular note with fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamins A, D, E and K, which accumulate in the body, as opposed to water-soluble vitamins that are excreted through urine when they reach excess amounts.

Some supplements can also interact with medications, in particular heart medications such as blood thinners, therefore it is important to discuss supplement use with your GP or cardiologist. A healthy diet is one of the best defenses against heart disease.

Unless there is an identified deficiency that needs to be addressed, most supplements are at best a waste of money and at worst can cause issues with toxicity and drug interactions. The Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities.

We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. Home Blog. Supplements and heart health. Will taking supplements improve my heart health?

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Follow Mayo Clinic. Get the Mayo Clinic app. Magnesium supplements come in various forms and mineral combinations, such as magnesium citrate , magnesium gluconate , magnesium hydroxide and the popular form of magnesium sulfate , also known as Epsom salt, used in baths and foot soaks for sore, tired muscles.

Patients with kidney disease need to be cautious with magnesium, warns Sherri Rutherford, DO, PeaceHealth Southwest Washington integrative medicine, and talk with their doctor.

L-carnitine is an amino acid needed to transport fats into the mitochondria the place in the cell where fats are turned into energy.

Adequate energy production is essential for normal heart function. Several studies using L-carnitine showed an improvement in heart function and a reduction in symptoms of angina. People with congestive heart failure have insufficient oxygenation of the heart, which can damage the heart muscle.

Such damage may be reduced by taking L-carnitine supplements. Taking L-carnitine may also help reduce damage and complications following a heart attack. Green tea.

Green tea has been enjoyed for centuries, and used as a likely effective aid in treating high cholesterol. Green tea has been shown to lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels according to several preliminary and controlled trials.

Rutherford recommends three cups per day, rather than extract, since contamination can be a concern as a supplement. Besides making food taste good for many people, garlic taken orally as a supplement has been used as a possibly effective aid in treating high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.

Garlic can affect blood-clotting and may increase your risk of bleeding. If you need surgery, dental work, or a medical procedure, stop taking garlic at least two weeks ahead of time. Avoid excess choline. Humans consuming excess choline, an essential nutrient plentiful in meat, eggs and milk, raises levels of a bacteria-produced compound called trimethylamine N-oxide TMAO , and the tendency of platelets to clump together and form clots.

Numerous studies have shown that higher blood levels of TMAO are associated with a greater risk of heart disease , including heart attacks and strokes in humans, and recent studies showed that feeding animals choline-supplemented diets also raised their risk of clotting. Talk to your doctor , and keep in mind.

Home Healthy You 8 Heart Health Supplements To Take — and One To Avoid. Coenzyme Q10 Co Q10 Coenzyme Q10 CoQ10 is a substance similar to a vitamin.

Fiber The best way to get fiber is from food. Omega-3 fatty acids Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are found in oil from certain types of fish, vegetables, and other plant sources. Magnesium Low magnesium levels can be a predictor of heart disease, research has revealed.

L-Carnitine L-carnitine is an amino acid needed to transport fats into the mitochondria the place in the cell where fats are turned into energy. Green tea Green tea has been enjoyed for centuries, and used as a likely effective aid in treating high cholesterol. Garlic Besides making food taste good for many people, garlic taken orally as a supplement has been used as a possibly effective aid in treating high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.

Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisors. See our editorial policies and staff. Eat Smart. American Heart Association Cookbooks. Nutrition Basics. Healthy For Good: Spanish Infographics. Home Healthy Living Healthy Eating Eat Smart Nutrition Basics Dietary Supplements: Hype or Help for Good Health.

Talk with your primary care provider about your personal needs. Food first! Consult with your health care provider Dietary supplements may support good health, but are not replacements for a diet of nutrient-dense foods.

Limit excess calories, added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. Include a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean sources of protein such as plant proteins, fish or seafood, low fat or non-fat diary, nuts and legumes.

Fish intake has been associated with decreased risk of heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends that patients without documented heart disease eat a variety of fish — preferably omegacontaining fish — at least twice a week.

To separate fact from fiction, we took a deep dive into the world of supplements to see what role, if any, these products can play in improving heart health. There is currently little evidence of a link between supplement use and reduced cardiovascular disease risk. A meta analyses into common supplements and cardiovascular risk found that popular supplements including multivitamins, calcium, vitamin D and vitamin C showed no consistent benefit in preventing cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke.

The authors noted that further research is needed, particularly in relation to supplementation in people who take medication for existing cardiovascular diseases. Vitamin B6, vitamin A, multivitamins, antioxidants, and iron supplements were found in a systematic review to not significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

However, omega-3 and folate supplements were associated with a reduction in cardiovascular outcomes. The review also found that combined calcium and vitamin D supplements might increase the risk of stroke. Supplements are beneficial when they are used to address existing deficiencies.

This may include common deficiencies like iron and vitamin D. Deficiencies can be identified via a blood test. Plant sterols have been found to lower total and LDL-cholesterol levels, though not to the same degree as statins.

If you choose to take a fiber supplement, be sure you don't inadvertently purchase a laxative supplement instead. The labels on both types of supplements may say something like "regulates bowel patterns.

Fiber seems to be most effective used in conjunction with diet and exercise for contributing to weight loss. Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are found in oil from certain types of fish, vegetables, and other plant sources.

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids work by lowering the body's production of triglycerides. High levels of triglycerides can lead to coronary artery disease , heart disease, and stroke. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids used together with diet and exercise help lower triglyceride levels in the blood.

In a double-blind study of patients with chronic heart failure, supplementation with fish oil resulted in a small but statistically significant decrease in the number of patients who died or were hospitalized for cardiovascular reasons.

In another double-blind trial, supplementation improved heart function and decreased the number of hospitalizations in some patients. Low magnesium levels can be a predictor of heart disease, research has revealed. Low magnesium has been linked with cardiovascular risk factors such as: high blood pressure , arterial plaque build-up, calcification of soft tissues, cholesterol and hardening of the arteries.

Magnesium supplements come in various forms and mineral combinations, such as magnesium citrate , magnesium gluconate , magnesium hydroxide and the popular form of magnesium sulfate , also known as Epsom salt, used in baths and foot soaks for sore, tired muscles.

Patients with kidney disease need to be cautious with magnesium, warns Sherri Rutherford, DO, PeaceHealth Southwest Washington integrative medicine, and talk with their doctor. L-carnitine is an amino acid needed to transport fats into the mitochondria the place in the cell where fats are turned into energy.

Adequate energy production is essential for normal heart function. Several studies using L-carnitine showed an improvement in heart function and a reduction in symptoms of angina. People with congestive heart failure have insufficient oxygenation of the heart, which can damage the heart muscle.

Such damage may be reduced by taking L-carnitine supplements. Taking L-carnitine may also help reduce damage and complications following a heart attack.

Green tea. Green tea has been enjoyed for centuries, and used as a likely effective aid in treating high cholesterol. Green tea has been shown to lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels according to several preliminary and controlled trials.

Rutherford recommends three cups per day, rather than extract, since contamination can be a concern as a supplement. Besides making food taste good for many people, garlic taken orally as a supplement has been used as a possibly effective aid in treating high blood pressure and coronary artery disease.

Garlic can affect blood-clotting and may increase your risk of bleeding. If you need surgery, dental work, or a medical procedure, stop taking garlic at least two weeks ahead of time. Jenkins DJA, et al. Supplemental vitamins and minerals for CVD prevention and treatment.

Journal of the American College of Cardiology. Vitamin D. Natural Medicines. Accessed April 14, Shivappa N, et al. Dietary inflammatory index and cardiovascular risk and mortality — A meta-analysis.

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