5 supplements for heart health: CoQ10, omega-3, and more

Key takeaways

• A variety of dietary supplements might have some benefits for your heart health, including CoQ10, potassium, omega-3, and different vitamins.
• Many of these beneficial substances can be found in foods, but if you aren’t getting enough from your diet, you can try an over-the-counter supplement.
• You should always speak with a doctor before taking a new vitamin or supplement to make sure they won’t have any negative effects on you.

Overview

Dietary supplements are a popular choice for many people to support their health journeys. They typically include vitamins or minerals that may have health-boosting effects. Many of these supplements can be used to boost heart health, but research evidence may be mixed regarding their actual effectiveness.

It’s important to remember that supplements should add to, not replace, medical therapy and healthy lifestyle choices, especially if you have a diagnosed health condition. Always speak with a doctor before taking a new vitamin or supplement.

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CoQ10 for heart failure

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), also known as ubiquinone, is a substance that’s naturally found in every cell in your body. The substance plays a key role in helping your cells produce energy and can also act as an antioxidant, helping reduce inflammation and keep your blood vessels healthy. 

CoQ10 is found in particularly high quantities in your heart cells, and it may have specific benefits for your heart health. Some 2025 research, for example, suggests that CoQ10 supplements are a safe and effective option to reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension.

Your body naturally produces CoQ10, but certain factors may slow down your production of it — including having heart failure and taking statins, which are common medications for high cholesterol.

In these cases, some 2021 research finds that CoQ10 supplements may be a good option to support your treatment and address any deficiencies that might be arising due to your condition or other medications.

What’s more, a 2025 trial found that CoQ10 supplementation may improve cardiac function, reduce cardiac stress, and improve quality of life in heart failure patients

Omega-3 for heart health

Omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) are essential for heart, brain, and eye health. Your body can’t produce them naturally, so you need to get them from your diet or from supplements.

Research finds that omega-3 FAs can play an important role in heart health. For example, a 2021 review concluded that they can reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke and improve overall outcomes.

Omega-3 FAs support heart health in 3 main ways:

• Reducing triglycerides: Omega-3 FAs can lower triglyceride levels (a type of fat in the blood), which decreases the risk of stroke and heart attack.
• Lowering blood pressure: Omega-3 FAs may also reduce your blood pressure, easing strain on your heart and reducing the risk of complications.
• Reducing inflammation: Omega-3 FAs may have an anti-inflammatory effect, which can prevent damage to blood vessels.

You can often get omega-3 fatty acids from your diet, most notably from oily fish, including salmon, mackerel, herring, and sardines. However, they’re also available in supplement form.

Potassium for blood pressure

Potassium is an essential mineral that your body doesn’t produce naturally, so it’s important to get it from dietary sources and supplements. It plays an important role in maintaining fluid balance, sending nerve signals, and regulating muscle contractions — including in your heart.

The main way that potassium benefits your heart is that it can reduce the effects of sodium by maintaining fluid balance in your body. Sodium can increase blood pressure, so potassium can be key in preventing high blood pressure. This, in turn, reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke.

It’s important to note that potassium can be harmful if you have kidney disease.

Magnesium for heart health

Magnesium is a mineral that’s important for several bodily functions, including muscle and nerve function, energy production, bone health, and heart health. It’s not produced naturally by the body, but it’s found in lots of foods, including leafy greens like spinach and whole grains.

Magnesium can aid in muscle contraction and relaxation, which can help maintain a regular heart rhythm. Low levels of magnesium are also linked with several cardiovascular issues, including arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, stroke, and high blood pressure, so supplementation may reduce this risk.

Vitamins for heart health

Your body needs vitamins to function. Most vitamins are naturally produced by the body or can be found in food, and the majority of people get all the vitamins they need from their diet. In other cases, you can get vitamins in supplement form or in a multivitamin.

Some vitamins that have specific benefits for heart health include:

• Vitamin A: A 2021 review notes that vitamin A may reduce blood pressure, reduce atherosclerosis (buildup of cholesterol in the arteries), and protect the heart muscle.
• Vitamin B6: Some 2023 research suggests that there may be a link between vitamin B6 and reduced heart disease risk.
• Vitamin K: Some 2021 research finds that diets high in vitamin K may lead to a reduced risk of coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease, and stroke.

Summary

Various dietary supplements can have benefits for heart health, including CoQ10, omega-3, and potassium. Some may be particularly beneficial if you already have heart-related conditions, whereas others may have a protective effect on your heart.

Always speak with a doctor before trying a new supplement or vitamin.

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Disclaimer: While Optum Perks strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses.