Nutraceuticals Supporting Heart Function in Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome that represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Western countries. Several nutraceuticals have shown promising clinical results in term of HF prevention as well as in the management of symptoms associated to the early stages of the disease. Clinical trials reported that the intake of some nutraceuticals (Hawthorn, Coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine, D-ribose, Carnosine, Vitamin D, Probiotics, Omega-3 PUFAs, Beet nitrates) is associated with improvements in self-perceived quality of life and/or functional parameters such as ejection fraction, stroke volume and cardiac output in HF patients, with minimal or no side effects. Those benefits tended to be greater in earlier HF stage. Evidence suggests that the supplementation with some nutraceuticals may be a useful option to improve HF management. However, in no case, the use of nutraceuticals can replace the consolidated pharmacological treatment of HF. Further long-term clinical trials are needed to investigate the effects of nutraceuticals supplementation on hard outcomes.