Supplements and Dietary Interventions on CVD

A meta-analysis of recent randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews concluded that reduced salt intake, omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC-PUFA) use, and folate supplementation could reduce risk for some cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Combined calcium plus vitamin D might increase risk for stroke. The analysis selected 9 systematic reviews and 4 new randomized controlled trials that encompassed a total of 277 trials, 24 interventions, and 992 129 participants. There was moderate-certainty evidence that reduced salt intake decreased the risk for all-cause mortality in normotensive participants (risk ratio [RR], 0.90) and CVD mortality in hypertensive participants (RR, 0.67). Low-certainty evidence showed that omega-3 LC-PUFA was associated with reduced risk for myocardial infarction (RR, 0.92) and coronary heart disease (RR, 0.93). Folic acid was associated with lower risk for stroke (RR, 0.80; low certainty), whereas calcium plus vitamin D increased the risk for stroke (RR, 1.17; moderate certainty). Other nutritional supplements, such as vitamin B₆, vitamin A, multivitamins, antioxidants, and iron and dietary interventions, such as reduced fat intake, had no significant effect on mortality or CVD (very low– to moderate-certainty evidence). Source: https://annals.org/