KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and SportsHeart Health: Vitamins & Minerals

It used to be that "an apple a day kept the doctor away." We get the vitamins and minerals we need from the foods we eat. But, are there vitamins, or minerals, that specifically target the heart?

Matt Breen, Reporting, "Are there vitamins or minerals that are specifically good for your heart?" Dr. Ramin Artang, Mercy Cardiology says, "This question is difficult. And, we need to distinguish between the difference between those who truly are vitamin deficient as compared to those that have normal vitamin levels in their blood. People, who are vitamin-deficient certainly do benefit from getting additional vitamins. But, people who are not vitamin-deficient, the question is not fully answered at this point."

Matt Breen, Reporting, "Are there some vitamins and minerals that have some benefit for the body?" Dr. Ramin Artang, Mercy Cardiology says, "There are some that we, as cardiologists, often recommend to our patients. The first one on that list is fish oil. We know that fish oil has been beneficial... especially at reducing triglycerides., which is a certain part of your cholesterol. That is often recommended for patients who are already on cholesterol-lowering medications, or before putting a patient on a cholesterol-lowering medication."

Matt Breen, Reporting, "What other vitamins and minerals are on that list?" Dr. Ramin Artang, Mercy Cardiology says, "Number two on my list is Vitamin D. Recent data shows that patients with heart disease, and are deficient in Vitamin D, will do better if they are given Vitamin D. So, that is number two on my list. And, do you want to ask me about number three? Matt Breen, Reporting, "Yes. Q-10." Dr. Raman Artang, Mercy Cardiology says, "Q-10 is a drug that, in the last 20-or-30 years has been investigated extensively for cancer and for heart disease. 20-years ago, it showed that it may be helpful for patients with heart failure and coronary artery disease. The data is still a little weak. But, I often use it, in particular, on a group of my patients who are having side-effects when they are on a group of other medications called statins, which is a cholesterol medication."

Matt Breen, Reporting, "The top 3 are fish oil coenzyme Q-10 and Vitamin D.