Antioxidants, Vitamins and Minerals
Click on each highlighted word to learn more about
the best antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals for heart health:
Beta-carotene
Heart healthy dosage: 5,000-25,000 IU daily
Vitamin
C
Heart healthy dosage: 1 to 5 g daily, in divided doses of
buffered vitamin C
Vitamin
E
Heart healthy dosage: 400-2,000 IU daily as d-alpha tocopherol
Niacin (vitamin
B3)
Heart healthy dosage: 50-100 mg daily (do not go above this
dosage for women, because many women are especially sensitive to
the flushing effect); up to 1,500-2,500 mg for men (but make sure
he starts at 50-150 mg twice daily and slowly increases to this
higher dose).
B-complex
vitamins
Heart healthy dosage: 25 to 100 mg daily. Also, 400 mcg daily
of folic acid to reduce homocysteine levels; at least 25 mg of vitamin
B6 daily to block clotting, lower blood pressure, improve blood
lipids and reduce homocysteine levels; and 25 mcg daily of vitamin
B12 to help with homocysteine metabolism.
Magnesium
Heart healthy dosage: 400-1,000 mg daily in divided doses
Potassium
Heart healthy dosage: 2,000-6,000 mg daily, typically from
foods such as fruits and vegetables, fiber, and whole grains.