Multivitamins and Women's Heart Health
The study examined 31,671 women with no history of heart disease, as well as 2,262 women with heart disease. The women were between the ages of 49 and 83 at the beginning of the study, and approximately 60 percent of them used a nutritional supplement.
During a 10-year period, only 2.6 percent of the women without pre-existing heart disease who took supplements had heart attacks, compared to 3.4 percent of the women without pre-existing heart disease who didn't take supplements.
Women without heart disease who took vitamins for less than five years experienced an 18 percent reduction in their risk of heart attack, while women without heart disease who took vitamins for at least 10 years decreased their risk by 41 percent.
There may be other things involved, since women who take nutritional supplements usually engage in other healthy practices such as physical activity and eating a healthy diet. And taking multivitamins along with a comprehensive long-term lifestyle plan for cardiovascular health is just what we have recommended in the 5 Smooth Stones to Defeat Cardiovascular Disease.
The five smooth stones approach include the following recommendations:
1. Stop Smoking And Avoid Second-Hand Smoke
2. Exercise and Control Weight
3. Adopt the Mediterranean Diet
4. Begin a Daily Nutritional Supplement Program
5. Use Other Natural Compounds That Specifically Address Cardiovascular Disease
When looking at multivitamins, it is important to take a complete daily supplement complex – something far beyond a basic multi-vitamin/mineral – that provides a full spectrum of nutrients, extracts, and other compounds together in the correct combinations, ratios and potencies. Our New & Improved Basic Nutrient Support contains more than 80 vitamins, minerals, herbs, plant extracts, antioxidants, essential fatty acids and other nutrients.
The additional natural compounds that address cardiovascular function can be found in our Cardiovascular Support, which provides a powerful combination of nutrients and herbs that support all aspects of heart health.