Multivitamins For Heart Health

Nutrients in multivitamins work together to support your body and reduce your risk of certain conditions, such as heart disease, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and other age or nutrition-related illnesses. Some vitamins have a more prominent role in cardiovascular health, however, including: 

• Vitamin C 

• Folic acid 

• CoQ10 

• Magnesium 

Vitamin C, found in most multivitamins for heart health, acts as an antioxidant that scavenges free radicals — reactive waste products that may damage your cells, blood vessels and organs. Vitamin C has a protective effect on your cardiovascular system and may also help lower high blood pressure, cholesterol and other heart disease risk factors. CoQ10 has similar effects and may work well with vitamin C to guard against the development and progression of cardiovascular disease.   

Folic acid is another of the best vitamins for heart health and may help protect against heart attacks and strokes. It helps control inflammation and assists with the detoxification of compounds that damage your blood vessels. Taken in sufficient daily amounts with vitamin B12 and magnesium, it may also help you manage your blood pressure better. 

Nutrients in multivitamins protect against heart disease in several ways. Some act as antioxidants to help limit oxidative stress, which contributes to atherogenesis — the process that causes plaque buildup and loss of flexibility in your arteries. Antioxidant supplements, such as tart cherry, may work well to enhance this effect. 

High levels of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) may play a significant role in the onset of heart disease and may contribute to other illnesses, such as diabetes. HDL cholesterol, however, is believed to protect against cardiovascular conditions. Magnesium, niacin and several other nutrients found in multivitamin supplements may help lower your total and LDL cholesterol numbers and improve your HDL cholesterol levels.   

Magnesium, vitamins C and E, selenium and potassium are the nutrients most likely to help lower high blood pressure, and multivitamin supplements frequently contain all these vitamins and minerals. Pairing a multivitamin with other heart health supplements, such as fish oil and l-arginine, may give even better blood pressure control.