Atherosclerosis

L-carnitine supplements improve lipid profile, meta-analysis finds

04-Sep-2023 By Olivia Haslam

A recent umbrella meta-analysis from Iran suggests that L-carnitine supplements exceeding 2g/day can enhance lipid profiles, particularly in patients with metabolic disorders and type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

CRN: AstraZeneca’s statin study slanted playing field in favor of drug

08-Nov-2022 By Hank Schultz

A recent study on cholesterol outcomes that was publicized at a medical society meeting misses the point of supplementation and was slanted to make the case for a drug intervention, the Council for Responsible Nutrition says.

Asian pine bark extract shows blood pressure benefits in study

26-Oct-2022 By Hank Schultz

An extract of the bark of an Asian pine species has shown significant reductions of blood pressure in a study conducted in Australia.

Food insecurity found to significantly increase risk of cardiovascular disease

07-Oct-2022 By Hank Schultz

Food insecurity raises the risk for almost all aspects of cardiovascular disease, new research from the University of Michigan has found.

$Turmeric roots are ground and pelletized before the curcuminoid fractions are extracted either with solvents or supercritical CO2. NutraIngredients-USA photo$

Review: Curcuminoids suppress atherosclerosis, but most data comes from in vitro, animal models

27-Jul-2021 By Hank Schultz

A new review concludes there is strong evidence for how curcuminoids can support vascular health. But the authors note that much of that evidence comes from in vitro tests and trials using animal models.

FDA proposes to revoke health claim for soy protein and reduced risk of heart disease; Soyfoods association 'concerned' by move

30-Oct-2017 By Elaine Watson

The FDA is proposing to revoke a health claim on the relationship between soy protein and reduced risk of heart disease, citing “inconsistent findings” from research published since the claim was authorized in 1999.

Omega-3 supplements may slash cardiac death risk: Meta-analysis

23-Aug-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Consumption of omega-3 supplements may reduce the risk of cardiac death by an average of 8%, according to results of a new meta-analysis that pooled data from over 70,000 people.

Olive leaf extract favorably changes blood pressure, cholesterol: RCT data

19-Jun-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Daily supplements containing a polyphenol-rich extract from olive leaves may improve blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels in pre-hypertensives, says a new study.

Policosanol fraction, Vitamin K2 combo helps statin users in study

31-May-2017 By Hank Schultz

A policosanol derivative teamed with vitamin K2 was found to be effective in lowering cardiovascular disease risk markers in a large scale study conducted in Serbia.

Açai pulp may improve antioxidant defenses, protect arteries

09-Feb-2017 By Stephen Daniells

Supplementing the diet of healthy women with açai pulp (Euterpe oleracea Martius) may improve antioxidant defenses, decrease markers of oxidative stress, and help protect against the formation of plaques in arteries, Brazilian researchers report.

Olive extract shows modest arterial stiffness benefit in study

06-Feb-2017 By Hank Schultz

A study on a standardized olive fruit extract shows promise for consumers at risk of arterial stiffness, as measured by a reduction in triglycerides. The extract showed less effect when measured with a vascular index.

Blue maize extract may lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels

13-Jan-2017 By Will Chu

Blue maize antioxidants may help protect against metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and diabetes raising possibilities of using blue maize as a nutraceutical and functional food component.

Garlic plus lemon may improve cholesterol level, lower blood pressure: Study

13-Oct-2016

Combining garlic and lemon juice may help slash total and LDL cholesterol levels in people with elevated blood lipids, as well as improve their blood pressure, says a new study.

Too much of a good thing? Calcium supplements may be bad for heart health

13-Oct-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Calcium intake from food supplements may increase the risk of coronary artery calcification (CAC), a ten-year follow-up of over 5,000 adults has found.

Nutrient-rich tomato extract effective in combination against heart disease: Study

10-Oct-2016 By Will Chu

A carotenoid-rich tomato extract (CRTE) has been found to inhibit a key process that leads to the thickening of the artery wall, which is typical of heart disease.

Unhealthy obsession with total cholesterol reduction is thwarting CVD prevention

07-Sep-2016 By Lynda Searby

Strategies to tackle cardiovascular disease (CVD) need to move away from statins and cholesterol reduction and focus on reducing inflammation and increasing HDL cholesterol through dietary intervention, urges a leading food lipids academic.

Omega-3s may give additional heart health benefits for statin users

07-Sep-2016 By Stephen Daniells

People taking statins to reduce cholesterol levels may also benefit from omega-3 supplements, says a new study which found blood pressure and arterial improvements for the fish oil users.

Analysis finds no safety concerns for calcium supplements and heart health

22-Jul-2016 By Stephen Daniells

There are “no compelling associations” between calcium supplementat use and increased risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, says a new study.

DISPATCHES FROM VITAFOODS EUROPE 2016

The heart health market: All in the same vein?

17-May-2016 By Will Chu

Those that visited this year’s Vitafoods conference in Geneva would not have failed to notice the growing range of products claiming to support cardiovascular health, in one shape or another.

Eating black raspberries may decrease heart disease risk: Study

29-Apr-2016 By Will Chu

An extract found in black raspberries can significantly lower arterial stiffness, a key measure of cardiovascular disease, according to data from a Korean study.

Fish oil, cocoa & plant sterols: The winning combination against heart disease?

28-Apr-2016 By Will Chu

Combining fish oil, cocoa extract and plant sterols food supplements could offer an effective defence against heart disease, a new study suggests.

Resveratrol’s heart health benefits linked to gut microbiota changes

18-Apr-2016 By Stephen Daniells

The potential cardiovascular benefits of resveratrol may be linked to its ability to preferentially alter the gut microbiome, suggests a new study with lab mice.

Higher magnesium levels linked to healthier arteries: Study

08-Mar-2016 By Stephen Daniells

Higher serum levels of magnesium may reduce the risk of hypertension by almost 50% and the risk of coronary artery calcification by 42%, says a new study.

Study finds berry pigments may decrease bad cholesterol in overweight individuals

20-Jan-2016 By Adi Menayang

The anthocyanins found in berries help decrease bad cholesterol in overweight individuals, but don’t affect the levels of individuals considered to have a healthy weight.

Soya milk better with phytosterols & inulin for LDL cholesterol: Study

17-Nov-2015 By Louisa Richards

Phytosterols and inulin added to soya milk has a more beneficial effect on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol than soya milk alone, according to a study.

Study strengthens olive leaf extract’s heart health benefits

09-Oct-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Extracts from olive leaf may reduce LDL cholesterol to the same extent as atorvastatin, report researchers from Celal Bayar University in Turkey.

Onion extracts lower blood pressure for hypertensives: study

07-Sep-2015 By Eliot Beer

Taking onion skin-derived food supplements of the flavonol quercetin can lower blood pressure for people with hypertension, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Nutrition.

Cardiologists recommend CoQ10, but some aren’t sure why, survey finds

10-Jul-2015 By Hank Schultz

Cardiologists frequently prescribe CoQ10 for their patients, but fewer of them are fully aware of the need for supplementation in connection with statin use, a new survey has found.

Olive oil polyphenols improve cardiovascular markers for young healthy men

08-Jul-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Polyphenols from olive oil may reduce LDL cholesterol levels and the build-up of LDL in the arterial walls (LDL atherogenicity) in healthy young men, says a new study from Europe.

Curcumin may reduce risk factors in people with CAD

22-May-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of Sabinsa’s Curcumin C3 Complex may decrease in the serum levels of triglycerides and LDL cholesterol in people with coronary artery disease (CAD), says a new study.

Should vitamin K2 also be recommended for statin users?

20-May-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Statins may be “mitochondrial toxins”, says a new review that finds that the pharmaceuticals may not only deplete CoQ10 levels but also inhibit the synthesis of vitamin K2. The result could be negative effects on the heart and blood vessels.

Pine bark extract may boost endothelial function in at-risk people

06-May-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of extracts from French Maritime Pine bark may strengthen metabolic parameters, reduce LDL cholesterol and curb oxidative stress in people with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Meta-analysis supports cholesterol-lowering potential of beta-glucan

05-May-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Consuming beta-glucan may help slash total and LDL cholesterol levels for people with elevated levels, says a new meta-analysis of 17 RCTs.

Cranberry juice may slash cardiometabolic risk factors: RCT study

30-Apr-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily consumption of a low-calorie cranberry juice may improve certain risk factors of heart disease, including blood pressure and triglycerides, says a new study from the Agricultural Research Service at the USDA and Ocean Spray Cranberries.

Vitamin D may prevent inflammation behind type 2 diabetes and clogged arteries

20-Mar-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Vitamin D may play an important role in preventing the inflammation that leads to the development of type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis, according to research in mice.

3-5 cups of coffee a day may help keep artery blockages away

03-Mar-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

People who consume between three to five cups of coffee a day may have a lower risk of coronary artery calcium build-up, which can lead to artery blockages, according to research published in the British Medical Journal’s publication Heart.

Nattopharma's vitamin K2 ingredient makes splash in arterial health space with new product launch

10-Feb-2015 By Hank Schultz

Vitamin K2, recognized in recent years for its role in bone health, is now making a splash in the cardiovascular disease realm with the launch of a new product using Nattopharma’s MenaQ7 ingredient.

Vitamin E linked to lower heart attack risk, but only if used alone?

10-Feb-2015 By Stephen Daniells

Supplements of vitamin E may reduce the risk of myocardial infarction, says a new meta-analysis of 16 randomized clinical trials, but the effects seem to be canceled out when given other antioxidants.

Sabinsa raises forecasts for curcumin as new formulas, dosage forms, and breakthrough science expand the opportunities

15-Jan-2015 By Stephen Daniells

2014 was a great year for curcumin, and Sabinsa is expecting an even better 2015 with new data from a randomized clinical trial showing the ingredient’s ability to lower blood lipid levels and ‘opening up a new direction in the already robust body of...

Fish and borage/echium oil may improve metabolic syndrome biomarkers: Human data

09-Jan-2015 By Stephen DANIELLS

Supplementing the diet of people with early-stage type-2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome with fish oil or a combination of borage and echium oil may improve cholesterol levels and other biomarkers, says a new study.

Curcumin shows heart health benefits by ‘multiple mechanisms’

26-Sep-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Daily supplements of curcumin, the yellow pigment that gives turmeric its color, may improve heart health in lab rabbits fed a diet high in cholesterol, says a new study.

Acai seed extracts show heart health support potential: Rat data

28-Jul-2014 By Stephen DANIELLS

Extracts from the seeds of acai berries (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) may protect hearts against exercise intolerance and dysfunction, says new data from a study with rats that adds to the heart health benefits of the fruit.

LycoRed: Cardio health is not just about reducing LDL cholesterol

10-Jul-2014 By Elaine Watson

While many cardio health products are still focused on reducing 'bad' LDL cholesterol, the next generation will cover a broader range of benefits from improving endothelial function to protecting LDL cholesterol from oxidation, predicts tomato...

Meta-analysis: Vitamin C supplements may boost endothelial function

24-Jun-2014 By Stephen Daniells

Oral doses of vitamin C greater than 500 milligrams per day may boost the health of the endothelium - the thin layer of cells lining the blood vessels – and boost overall heart health for people who need it the most, according to a meta-analysis of 44...