Description
Statistics from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
About 610,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year–that’s 1 in every 4 deaths. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. Every year about 735,000 Americans have a heart attack. Of these, 525,000 are a first heart attack and 210,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack. Best heart health supplements.
Function of Heart
Human heart pumps blood throughout the body via the circulatory system, supplying oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and removing carbon dioxide and other wastes. Arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from the heart to all parts of your body; and veins carry blood, lacking in oxygen, back towards your heart. Therefore, heart plays a crucial role in the overall functioning of the human body.
For your overall wellness, your heart must be in tip-top shape. Heart disease and blood vessel dysfunctions have assumed a menacing threat. Lifestyle diseases are easy to prevent than to treat and HeartSmart can be of great help with best vitamins for heart health. We have formulated HeartSmart as a generous gift for a healthy life. HeartSmart is a blend of herbs, each of which has properties that promote the health of the heart.*
To support your wellness journey, HeartSmart ingredients have been carefully chosen to provide best heart health supplements for the following health issues*
- – Hypertension
- – Hyperlipidemia
- – Oxidative stress
- – Inflammation
- – Atherosclerosis
- – Hyperglycemia
- – Obesity
- – Chronic venous insufficiency
As herbs contain numerous compounds, each of which has individual benefits. Some of the additional benefits provided by the ingredients of HeartSmart are as follows*
- – Anti-aging
- – Lung protection
- – Boosts brain functions
- – Boosts blood circulation and energy
- – Gastrointestinal issues
- – Liver health
- – Improve endothelial function
- – Improve immune system
- – Promotes healthy joints
- – Healthy prostate gland
- – Weight management
How To Use:
As a dietary supplement, take two capsules daily.
Warnings:
If you are pregnant or lactating, consult a health care professional before using this product.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Ingredients
HeartSmart
Serving size: 2 capsules
Number of servings = 30
Ingredients | mg/serving | % DV |
Terminalia Arjuna ext. 5% tannins | 300 | ☨ |
Pine bark ext 95% | 200 | ☨ |
Beta Sitosterol | 225 | ☨ |
Lycopene 10% | 75 | ☨ |
Withania somnifera ext. | 150 | ☨ |
Innula racemosa ext. | 200 | ☨ |
Berberin HCl | 150 | ☨ |
Policosanol | 10 | ☨ |
CoQ10 | 60 | ☨ |
☨ Daily values not established
Science
Below are some of the clinical trials conducted on HeartSmart ingredients.
Terminalia Arjuna extract
TITLE: Effect of E-OJ-01 on Cardiac Conditioning in Young Exercising Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. |
REFERENCE: Girandola RN, Srivastava S. Am J Ther. 2017 May;24(3):e298-e307. doi: 10.1097/MJT. |
LINK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27930383 |
Study Synopsis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group study was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of Terminalia arjuna extract (E-OJ-01) for use as an ergogenic supplements in young exercising adults. Thirty-two healthy males, aged 18-40 years performing regular endurance exercise, were randomly assigned to 400 mg of E-OJ-01 or placebo for 56 days. LVEF, right and left ventricular Myocardial Performance Index, and Borg Rated Perceived Exertion (RPE) were assessed at baseline, day 28, and day 56; creatine kinase-MB and troponin-T were assessed at baseline and at day 56.
As compared with placebo, 56 days of E-OJ-01 supplementation significantly improved the LVEF (P = 0.0001) and decreased the right ventricular Myocardial Performance Index (P = 0.001). The fatigue level captured by Borg Scale after completion of exercise showed a greater decrease in the E-OJ-01 group as compared with placebo.
The investigatots concluded that Terminalia arjuna extract (E-OJ-01) significantly increased cardiovascular efficiency and improved the cardiac conditioning in young healthy adults. |
TITLE: Efficacy of Terminalia arjuna in chronic stable angina: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study comparing Terminalia arjuna with isosorbide mononitrate. |
REFERENCE: Bharani A, Ganguli A, Mathur LK, Jamra Y, Raman PG. Indian Heart J. 2002 Mar-Apr;54(2):170-5. |
LINK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12086380 |
Study Synopsis: Fifty-eight males with chronic stable angina (NYHA class II-III) with evidence of provocable ischemia on treadmill exercise test received Terminalia arjuna (500 mg 8 hourly), isosorbide mononitrate (40 mg/daily) or a matching placebo for one week each, separated by a wash-out period of at least three days in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. They underwent clinical, biochemical and treadmill exercise evaluation at the end of each therapy which were compared during the three therapy periods. Terminalia arjuna therapy was associated with significant decrease in the frequency of angina and need for isosorbide dinitrate. The treadmill exercise test parameters improved significantly during therapy with Terminalia arjuna compared to those with placebo.
The investigators concluded that Terminalia arjuna bark extract, 500 mg 8 hourly, given to patients with stable angina with provocable ischemia on treadmill exercise, led to improvement in clinical and treadmill exercise parameters as compared to placebo therapy. |
Pine bark extract (Pycnogenol)
TITLE: Effects of Pycnogenol on endothelial function in patients with stable coronary artery disease: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. |
REFERENCE: Enseleit F, Sudano I, Périat D, Winnik S, Wolfrum M, Flammer AJ, Fröhlich GM, Kaiser P, Hirt A, Haile SR, Krasniqi N, Matter CM, Uhlenhut K, Högger P, Neidhart M, Lüscher TF, Ruschitzka F, Noll G. Eur Heart J. 2012 Jul;33(13):1589-97. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehr482. Epub 2012 Jan 11. |
LINK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22240497 |
Study Synopsis: Pycnogenol is a proprietary bark extract of the French maritime pine tree (Pinus pinaster ssp. atlantica) that exerts antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-platelet effects. Twenty-three patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) completed this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study. Patients received Pycnogenol (200 mg/day) for 8 weeks followed by placebo or vice versa on top of standard cardiovascular therapy. At baseline and after each treatment period, endothelial function, non-invasively assessed by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery using high-resolution ultrasound, biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, platelet adhesion, and 24 h blood pressure monitoring were evaluated. In CAD patients, Pycnogenol treatment was associated with an improvement of FMD, while no change was observed with placebo. 15-F(2t)-Isoprostane, an index of oxidative stress, significantly decreased after Pycnogenol treatment, while no change was observed in the placebo group
The investigators concluded that the antioxidant Pycnogenol improves endothelial function in patients with CAD by reducing oxidative stress. |
TITLE: Pycnogenol, French maritime pine bark extract, improves endothelial function of hypertensive patients. |
REFERENCE: Liu X, Wei J, Tan F, Zhou S, Würthwein G, Rohdewald P. Life Sci. 2004 Jan 2;74(7):855-62. |
LINK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14659974 |
Study Synopsis: A placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel group study was performed with 58 patients to investigate effects of French maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol, on patients with hypertension. Supplementation of the patients with 100 mg Pycnogenol over a period of 12 weeks helped to reduce the dose of the calcium antagonist nifedipine in a statistically significant manner. The intake of Pycnogenol decreased endothelin-1 concentrations significantly compared to placebo while concentrations of 6-keto prostaglandin F1a in plasma were significantly higher compared to placebo. Values for nitric oxide (NO) in plasma increased in both groups, but the differences were not significant. Angiotensin II concentrations in plasma were lowered in the placebo group to a larger extent than in the Pycnogenol group.
Study results support a supplementation with Pycnogenol for mildly hypertensive patients. |
Lycopene
TITLE: Lycopene intervention reduces inflammation and improves HDL functionality in moderately overweight middle-aged individuals. |
REFERENCE: McEneny J, Wade L, Young IS, Masson L, Duthie G, McGinty A, McMaster C, Thies F. J Nutr Biochem. 2013 Jan;24(1):163-8. |
LINK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22819555 |
Study Synopsis: This study examined lycopene’s ability to lower systemic and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-associated inflammation in moderately overweight middle-aged subjects. Serum was collected before and after a 12-week intervention from 54 moderately overweight, middle-aged individuals. Subjects were randomised to one of three groups: control diet (<10 mg lycopene/week), lycopene-rich diet (224-350 mg lycopene/week) and lycopene supplement (70 mg lycopene/week).
Lycopene increased in serum and HDL(2&3) following both lycopene interventions (P<.001, for all), while SAA decreased in serum following the lycopene supplement and in HDL(3) following both lycopene interventions (P<.05 for all). PON-1 activity increased in serum and HDL(2&3) in both lycopene groups (P<.05, for all). Furthermore, the activity of CETP decreased in serum following the lycopene supplement, while the activity of LCAT increased in serum and HDL(3) following both lycopene interventions (P<.05 for all).
These results demonstrate that in moderately overweight, middle-aged subjects, increasing lycopene intake leads to changes to HDL(2&3), which the investigators suggested enhanced their antiatherogenic properties. Overall, these results show the heart-protective properties of increased lycopene intake. |
TITLE: Natural antioxidants from tomato extract reduce blood pressure in patients with grade-1 hypertension: a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study. |
REFERENCE: Engelhard YN, Gazer B, Paran E. Am Heart J. 2006 Jan;151(1):100. |
LINK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16368299 |
Study Synopsis: Treatment of hypertension (HT) can reduce the risk for cardiovascular diseases. Tomato extract contains carotenoids such as lycopene, beta carotene, and vitamin E, which are known as effective antioxidants, to inactivate free radicals, and to slow the progression of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tomato extract on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in grade-1 HT, on serum lipoproteins, plasma homocysteine, and oxidative stress markers.
This study was a single-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Thirty-one subject with grade-1 HT, without concomitant diseases, who required no antihypertensive or lipid-lowering drug therapy, who were recruited from primary care clinics, completed the trial. Subjects entered a 4-week placebo period, then an 8-week treatment period with tomato extract, 250 mg Lyc-O-Mato, and a 4-week control period with placebo.
Systolic blood pressure decreased from 144 (SE +/- 1.1) to 134 mm Hg (SE +/- 2, P < .001), and diastolic blood pressure decreased from 87.4 (SE +/- 1.2) to 83.4 mm Hg (SE +/- 1.2, P < .05). No changes in blood pressure were demonstrated during placebo periods.
The investogators of this study concluded that a short-term treatment with antioxidant-rich tomato extract can reduce blood pressure in patients with grade-1 HT, naive to drug therapy. |
Withania somnifera extract
TITLE: Effects of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) and Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) on physical performance and cardiorespiratory endurance in healthy young adults. Sandhu JS, Shah B, Shenoy S, Chauhan S, Lavekar GS, Padhi MM. Int J Ayurveda Res. 2010 Jul;1(3):144-9. |
REFERENCE: |
LINK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21170205 |
Study Synopsis: This trial included forty normal healthy subjects (either sex, mean age 20.6 ± 2.5yrs and mean Body Mass Index 21.9 ± 2.2). Thirty participants were assigned to experimental group of which 10 received standardized root extracts of Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha), 10 received standardized bark extract of Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) and the rest of the 10 received standardized root extract of Withania somnifera in addition to bark extract of Terminalia arjuna both. Both ingredients were given in the form of capsules (dosage 500 mg/day for both). Ten participants received placebo (capsules filled with flour). All the subjects continued the regimen for 8 weeks.
This study showed that Withania somnifera increased velocity, power and VO2 max whereas Terminalia arjuna increased VO2 max and lowered resting systolic blood pressure. When given in combination, the improvement was seen in all parameters except balance and diastolic blood pressure.
The investigators concluded that Withania somnifera (Ashwagandha) may therefore be useful for generalized weakness and to improve speed and lower limb muscular strength and neuro-muscular co-ordination. Terminalia arjuna (Arjuna) may prove useful to improve cardio-vascular endurance and lowering systolic blood pressure. |
Berberin HCl
TITLE: Effects of a nutraceutical combination (berberine, red yeast rice and policosanols) on lipid levels and endothelial function randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. |
REFERENCE: Affuso F, Ruvolo A, Micillo F, Saccà L, Fazio S. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis. 2010 Nov;20(9):656-61. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2009.05.017. Epub 2009 Aug 20. |
LINK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19699071?dopt=Abstract |
Study Synopsis: Investigators of this study evaluated the effects of a nutraceutical combination (NC), consisting of 500 mg berberine, 200mg red yeast rice and 10mg policosanols, on cholesterol levels and endothelial function in patients with hypercholesterolemia.
In this single centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 50 hypercholesterolemic patients (26 males and 24 females, mean age 55±7 years, total cholesterol 6.55±0.75 mmol/l, BMI 28±3.5) were randomized to 6 weeks of treatment with a daily oral dose of NC (25 patients) or placebo (25 patients).
The outcome of this trial was decreased total cholesterol (C) levels in the NC group. Secondary outcome measures were decreased low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride levels, and improved endothelial-dependent flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and insulin sensitivity in relation to NC. |
TITLE: Efficacy and safety of berberine for congestive heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. |
REFERENCE: Zeng XH, Zeng XJ, Li YY. Am J Cardiol. 2003 Jul 15;92(2):173-6. |
LINK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12860219 |
Study Synopsis: This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of berberine for chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). One hundred fifty-six patients with CHF and >90 ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) and/or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) on 24-hour Holter monitoring were randomly divided into 2 groups. All patients were given conventional therapy for CHF, consisting of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, digoxin, diuretics, and nitrates. Patients in the treatment group (n = 79) were also given berberine 1.2 to 2.0 g/day. The remaining 77 patients were given placebo.
Symptoms, a 6-minute walk test, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), frequency and complexity of VPCs, and quality of life were assessed after 8 weeks of treatment and during a mean 24-month follow-up. After treatment with berberine, there was a significantly greater increase in LVEF, exercise capacity, improvement of the dyspnea-fatigue index, and a decrease of frequency and complexity of VPCs compared with the control group. There was a significant decrease in mortality in the berberine-treated patients during long-term follow-up (7 patients receiving treatment died vs 13 on placebo, p <0.02). Proarrhythmia was not observed, and there were no apparent side effects. Thus, berberine improved quality of life and decreased VPCs and mortality in patients with CHF. |
Policosanol
TITLE: Effects of policosanol on older patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia. |
REFERENCE: Castaño G, Más R, Fernández JC, Fernández L, Illnait J, López E. Drugs R D. 2002;3(3):159-72. |
LINK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12099160 |
Study Synopsis: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of policosanol administered for 12 months on the lipid profile of older patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia and no history of coronary heart disease (CHD) or cerebrovascular disease. 589 older male and female patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia and no history of CHD or cerebrovascular disease were included.
This was a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in parallel groups treated with policosanol (5 to 10 mg/day) for 1 year. After 6 weeks on a standard step I cholesterol-lowering diet, 589 patients were randomised to policosanol (5 mg) or placebo tablets, to be taken once daily for 12 months. The dosage was doubled to 10 mg/day if total cholesterol values were > 6.1 mmol/L after 6 months of therapy.
Policosanol significantly (p < 0.00001) lowered serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) [20.5%], total cholesterol (TC) [15.4%], triglycerides (11.9%), LDL-C/high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio [22.2%] and TC/HDL-C ratio (20.1%), and increased (p < 0.0001) HDL-C (12.7%). Policosanol was well tolerated, and no drug-related disturbances in safety indicators were found. Policosanol significantly decreased systolic blood pressure (BP) compared with baseline and placebo.
The investigators concluded that policosanol administered long term is effective in lowering LDL-C and TC as well as increasing HDL-C levels in older patients with hypertension and type II hypercholesterolaemia without a history of CHD or cerebrovascular disease. |
TITLE: Effect of policosanol on hyperlipidemia and coronary heart disease in middle-aged patients. A 14-month pilot study. |
REFERENCE: Batista J, Stüsser R, Saéz F, Pérez B. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 1996 Mar;34(3):134-7. |
LINK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8705091 |
Study Synopsis: To find out the long-term lipid-lowering efficacy of policosanol in low dose and its influence in the evolution of coronary heart disease (CHD), a pilot clinical randomized single-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted on 23 middle-aged outpatients, with well documented diagnosis of chronic CHD and primary or marginal hyperlipidemia. Twelve patients received policosanol tablets of 1 mg twice daily, and 11 patients placebo in the same fashion, followed with rest and stress electrocardiogram (ECG), and serum lipid blood samples by 14 months. The treated group showed significant reduction of total cholesterol in 14.8% (p < or = 0.001) and of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in 15.6% (p < or = 0.05), against non significant increase of 3% and 5.5%, respectively, in the placebo group. No patient had new coronary events in both groups, but 5 of 12 treated patients exhibited a clinical tendency to improve their CHD, in comparison with no one in the placebo group (p < or = 0.05). These findings show the effectiveness of low dose of policosanol lowering total cholesterol and LDL levels and suggest a CHD improvement in middle-aged patients with primary or marginal hyperlipidemia. |
CoQ10
TITLE: NT-Pro BNP Predicts Myocardial Injury Post-Vascular Surgery and is Reduced with CoQ10: A Randomized Double-Blind Trial. |
REFERENCE: Carlson S, Khan A, Johnson DK, Hocum-Stone L, Kelly RF, Gravely AA, Mbai M1, Green DL, Santilli S, Garcia S, Adabag S, McFalls EO. Ann Vasc Surg. 2019 Oct 17. pii: S0890-5096(19)30855-6. doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2019.09.017. |
LINK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31629852/ |
Study Synopsis: In a double-blind randomized controlled trial, One hundred and twenty-three patients were randomized to receive either CoQ10 (N=62) versus Placebo (N=61) for 3 days before vascular surgery. NT-Pro BNP levels in the CoQ10 and Placebo groups were 179 and 217 pg/ml respectively (P=0.08) at 24 hours following surgery. Patients with an elevated NT-Pro BNP had a higher incidence of myocardial injury, (58% versus 20%; P<0.01) and a longer hospital stay (4.4±3.8 versus 2.8±3.2 days; P<0.02) compared with individuals without an elevated NT-Pro BNP level.
The investigators concluded that NT-Pro BNP levels predict adverse events post-vascular surgery and are lowered in those patients assigned to preoperative administration of CoQ10 |
TITLE: Effect of coenzyme Q10 on the incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure. |
REFERENCE: Zhao Q, Kebbati AH, Zhang Y, Tang Y, Okello E, Huang C. J Investig Med. 2015 Jun;63(5):735-9. |
LINK: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25919281 |
Study Synopsis: There is mounting evidence to support the influence of inflammation and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). Patients with HF were randomized and divided into 2 groups: the CoQ10 group (combined administration of common drugs and CoQ10) and the control group (administration of common drugs). Ambulatory electrocardiogram Holter monitoring (24 hours), Doppler echocardiography, and evaluation of inflammatory cytokines were performed before treatment and 6 and 12 months after treatment.
One hundred two patients (72 male and 30 female patients), with ages ranging from 45 to 82 years (mean age, 62.3 years), were examined. There was significant reduction in the level of malondialdehyde in the CoQ10 group, whereas there was no significant difference in the control group after 6 and 12 months.
The investigators concluded that coenzymeQ10 as adjuvant treatment in patients with HF may attenuate the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF). The mechanisms of the effect perhaps have relation with the reduced levels of malondialdehyde. |