Cardiologists Recommend Dietary Supplements for a Healthy Heart

WASHINGTON—Consumers looking to ensure heart health may wish to go beyond just diet and exercise to add dietary supplements to that regime, according to a majority of cardiologists. New research from the “Life ... supplemented” Healthcare Professionals (HCP) Impact Study found 72 percent of U.S. cardiologists recommend dietary supplements to their patients, and more than half (57 percent) take supplements themselves.

“Dietary supplements play an important role in a well-balanced health regimen, filling nutritional gaps and helping to promote overall health,” said William Cooper, M.D., medical director of cardiovascular surgery at WellStar Kennestone Hospital, assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Emory University and advisor to the “Life ... supplemented” campaign. “For those at high risk for heart disease, there’s evidence that consistent use of certain supplements may help as part of a preventive program.”

And cardiologists are prepared to give advice on those supplements, with 62 percent agreeing that one of their roles as a health care professional is to provide info to patients about appropriate dietary supplements. The most popular supplements among cardiologists? multivitamins, omega-3s/fish oil and vitamin C. Other heart-healthy nutrients include fiber, phytosterols, B vitamins, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), calcium, potassium and magnesium.