Nutrients Reverse Heart Failure

What can medical science tell us about heart failure? Many studies have shown the benefit of reducing heart inflammation along with free radical and lipid peroxidation damage. There also appears to be a strong correlation between inflammation of the heart muscle and how quickly one reaches the terminal stage of heart failure that requires a transplant.

The best-conducted studies of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) showed improvements in symptoms and in some heart function tests. Other studies showed no benefits, but they used only very small doses of CoQ10 and they used less functional forms of the nutrient. (CoQ10 is fat-soluble and therefore poorly absorbed as an encapsulated powder, which was used in many studies that failed.) Newer formulations, such as ubiquinol (instead of ubiquinone) that are designed for improved absorption work much better. (For the latest information on how to protect your heart, see my report "New Heart Revelations.")

Failing hearts have been improved by using:

• CoQ10

• Acetyl-L-carnitine

• L-carnitine

• Carnosine

• R-lipoic acid

• Riboflavin-5 phosphate

• Niacinamide

The flavonoids used to treat diabetes — such as curcumin, ellagic acid, and quercetin — also reduce free radical and lipid peroxidation damage in the heart muscle.

In one study, researchers combined a number of these nutrients and found dramatic improvement in patients with severe heart failure, one of whom was eventually removed from the transplant list. Yet despite this evidence, many cardiologists refuse to use these “nutraceuticals” to treat their patients. (For more information on how other natural supplements can improve your health, read my newsletter "Extend Your Life: 4 Supplements That Will Help You Live Longer.")

The standard treatment for heart failure is a paper bag filled with drugs, many of which will make you feel weak, fatigued, and unable to function. With the widespread use of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs, we have witnessed a dramatic rise in heart failure. This is because statins block the enzyme needed by the body to make CoQ10, which is essential for the brain as well as the heart.

It is obvious from this short review of studies that many people could benefit from the use of scientifically designed nutraceuticals. In many cases, heart disease could even be prevented.

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