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Nutraceuticals in Patients With Heart Failure: A Systematic Review
Ingrid Hopper1, Cia Connell2, Tom Briffa3
1Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Heart Centre, The Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Journal of Cardiac Failure
|November 10, 2019
Summary
Omega-3 fatty acids show modest benefits for heart failure patients, reducing mortality and hospitalizations. Other nutraceuticals lack sufficient evidence for efficacy, with clinicians advised to prioritize proven treatments.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nutritional Science
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Nutraceuticals are bioactive compounds from food sources used for health benefits.
- A review of nutraceutical evidence for heart failure was conducted for Australian guidelines.
- Heart failure management guidelines require robust evidence for treatment recommendations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the evidence for nutraceuticals in heart failure management.
- To assess the efficacy of various nutraceuticals in improving patient outcomes.
- To inform clinical practice and guideline development regarding nutraceutical use in heart failure.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search for studies comparing nutraceuticals to standard care in heart failure patients.
- Inclusion criteria: >50 patients and ≥6 months follow-up, or <50 patients and <6 months if no larger studies found.
- Primary outcomes assessed: mortality, hospitalization, quality of life, and exercise tolerance.
Main Results:
- Forty studies met inclusion criteria; omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids demonstrated modest reductions in mortality and cardiovascular hospitalizations.
- Coenzyme Q10 showed potential benefits for mortality and hospitalization, but further research is needed.
- Studies on beetroot juice, various micronutrients, hawthorn, magnesium, thiamine, vitamins E & D, L-arginine, L-carnosine, and L-carnitine were inconclusive due to small sample sizes or insufficient follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are the only nutraceutical recommended in Australian heart failure guidelines.
- Most other nutraceuticals lack sufficient evidence to support their efficacy in heart failure.
- Clinicians should prioritize evidence-based treatments proven to reduce mortality in heart failure patients.
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