09 Jul Most Supplements Found to Not Decrease Risk of Heart Attack, Stroke or Death

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Khan

Safi U. Khan, MD
Department of Internal Medicine
Robert Packer Hospital
Sayre, PA 18840 

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: There is substantial body of observational data favoring use of vitamins, supplements and special diets for improving cardiovascular health. However, such type of data is limited by various biases. Randomized controlled trial (RCT) is considered gold standard to evaluate effects of a therapy. 

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: Using randomized data, we found some evidence favoring folic acid supplementation for stroke, omega 3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFA) for heart attack and low salt diet for mortality.

None of the other vitamins, minerals, supplements and diets examined had any protective effects on death, heart attack or stroke.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report? 

Response: This study provides an evidence map for the readers regarding the effects of vitamins, supplements, and certain diet, and suggest that while few of these products can improve cardiovascular health, majority of them do not reduce the risk of death, heart attack or stroke.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: While we have enough quality evidence suggesting no benefits of various vitamins, supplements and dietary patterns, there is still paucity of randomized data assessing fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and fibers. Future studies should examine their role in prevention of mortality and cardiovascular events.

Citation:

Effects of Nutritional Supplements and Dietary Interventions on Cardiovascular OutcomesAn Umbrella Review and Evidence Map 

Safi U. Khan, MD; Muhammad U. Khan, MD; Haris Riaz, MD; Shahul Valavoor, MD; Di Zhao, PhD; Lauren Vaughan, MD; Victor Okunrintemi, MD, MPH; Irbaz Bin Riaz, MD, MS; Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, MD; Edo Kaluski, MD; M. Hassan Murad, MD; Michael J. Blaha, MD, MPH; Eliseo Guallar, MD, DrPH; Erin D. Michos, MD, MHS
Ann Intern Med. 2019.
DOI: 10.7326/M19-0341
©
2019 American College of Physicians

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Last Updated on July 9, 2019 by Marie Benz MD FAAD