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heart disease overview > Tests & Treatments >
Supplements: Use a Dose of Caution
What might work
What’s Still Unknown
For a host of supplements, the ACCF says there simply isn’t enough scientific evidence to recommend their use. Supplement makers can point to studies they say prove a substance’s benefits. But those studies don’t meet the standards that many scientists say are necessary.
Some supplements that cannot be recommended by the ACCF include:
- CoQ10—more research is needed to assess the long-term benefit in the treatment of high blood pressure.
- Ginkgo biloba—one of the top-selling herbs in the United States, but there is not sufficient data to show effectiveness for peripheral vascular disease.
- Hawthorn—trials are under way to evaluate its benefits for heart failure, but no adequate evidence exists. There is concern that hawthorn might cause complications when combined with other drugs to lower blood pressure.
- Horse chestnut seed extract—used for chronic venous insufficiency. There is not enough data to recommend use in other conditions, such as peripheral vascular disease.
Continued on Page 4: What to Avoid |
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