CAM for heart disease: Current state of the evidence
During a seminar at the American Heart Association 2006 meeting titled “The Science Behind Popular Nutrition Claims,” medical researchers summarized the research on a number of complementary options to “help maintain a healthy heart.”
Here is a summary of the Medscape article. Links to more info are highlighted.
Stanols
- Reduces LDL (bad) cholesterol 10% when taken at maximum doses (2 to 3 grams per day).
Policosanol
- Not recommended because 4 recently published human studies reported no effect on LDL cholesterol.
- These results contradict earlier studies done in Cuba.
- More background here.
Lipoic acid
- Data are “confusing,” but it appears to be of benefit to treat diabetic neuropathy.
- The best dose needs to be determined.
Coenzyme Q10
- Preliminary evidence supports coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone, ubiquinol, and ubidecarenone) to treat heart failure.
- But it’s unclear which patients benefit.
- More background here.
Vitamin E
- Overall, the evidence doesn’t support vitamin E to prevent/treat heart disease.
- However, one study in older women reported a reduction in death from heart disease.
B6 and folate
- For patients with heart disease, observational data suggested a benefit of B6 and folate, because they lower homocysteine levels.
- Major studies have failed to confirm this.
- More here, and here.
Green tea
- Data are mixed, but claims of its efficacy are founded on its well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.
- Lots more here.
12/6/06 20:19 JR
