t is not entirely clear from a medical perspective whether supplements improve cardiovascular health. In fact, until recently, even conservative medical researchers thought vitamin E helped prevent heart disease. However, the Women’s Health Initiative with over 40,000 female participants showed no difference in the rate of death from heart disease in women who took vitamin E and those who did not.

	Vitamin C increased HDL (good cholesterol) in women, although not in men.

This recent change of heart about vitamin E highlights the fact that we don’t know everything about supplements, and also illustrates the importance of getting a full range of nutrients and antioxidants from fresh fruits and vegetables. Eating fruits and vegetables is better than supplements, and even more protection for your heart is a complete antioxidant system that includes natural vitamin E with all of the isomers, or types, of vitamin E (especially gamma-tocopherol), along with vitamin C and a variety of carotenoids, flavonoids, and anthocyanidins naturally found in food. But if you're not able to get the full spectrum of vitamins from your food, then adding supplements to your diet might be the trick to compensate. The following findings provide some indication of the importance of a diet stocked with vitamins.

Research Findings on Vitamins and Heart Health

Results on Vitamin E

Studies in which participants took vitamin E for two years to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease provided mixed reports. One large study of both men and women found incidence of the disease decreased between 30 to 65 percent. A study of more than 87,000 female nurses showed that vitamin E takes effect only after two to eight years of use; then, heart attacks and strokes were reduced by 40 percent.

Results on Vitamin C

Vitamin C is also beneficial to heart disease patients in some cases because it may transform vitamin E within the body to its active form and keep that vitamin E working longer. Another large study of men and women showed vitamin C increased HDL (good cholesterol) in women, although not in men.

Results on Vitamin B

Many of the B vitamins, such as folic acid, B12, B6, and betaine hydrochloride can protect the heart. In one large 14-year study, women with the highest folic acid intake had one-third fewer heart attacks than women with the lowest intake. Those who took vitamin B6 had a six percent lower risk for every milligram per day in their diets.

Results on Vitamin D

Some research has been done on coenzyme Q10 and vitamin D. In a study of 115 patients with high blood pressure, coenzyme Q10 resulted in lower blood pressure readings for 80 percent of the subjects. CoQ10 has also had some benefits in heart conditions when there is a prolapse of the mitral valve. Vitamin D deficiency is seen in many people who have congestive heart failure.

A Heart Healthy Supplement Prescription

Bottom line: A supplement for heart health must contain a full range of antioxidants, many of the B vitamins (especially folic acid), and CoQ10. If you don’t get much direct sun exposure, then using fish oil or a moderate amount of vitamin D might be helpful.