Almost 18 million people die from cardiovascular diseases each year, according to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO). That accounts for 31% of all deaths worldwide, making it the number one cause of death globally.
The most common risk factors for developing cardiovascular diseases include high blood pressure, increased blood glucose and lipid levels, as well as being overweight and obese. Early detection of these symptoms is essential for preventing negative health outcomes.
Is there anything you can do to improve your heart health?
Well, yes.
A healthy diet and regular exercise are recognized as the two most important factors for your heart health. However, some nutraceutical products show potential in providing benefits to your circulatory system.
A new study published in journal Nutrients showed that a supplement based on the extract from citrus plants and olive leafs exhibited incredible improvements in heart health biomarkers.
This Spain-based double-blinded randomized trial included 96 volunteers, who were all reported to be in healthy condition. Participants were assigned into two groups, and each group was given to consume two capsules each day over eight weeks. The first group consumed a placebo, while the second group used a supplement called Citroven.
Citroven is made by Nutrafur iff-Health, and it contains a blend of extracts from two citrus plants and olive leaves. According to data, each supplement contained 175-200 mg of flavones, 250-300 mg of flavanone-glycosides, and 85-90 mg of polyphenols from olives.
The results were labeled as “remarkable.”
Flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) increased by 3%, compared to only 0.5% in the control group. FMD is a standard marker used to determine the health of blood vessels. So, even though this increase doesn’t seem like much at first glance, it is significant.
Researchers also observed blood pressure reductions, which is an important step for preventing cardiovascular conditions.
Blood lipid levels considerably improved, as cholesterol levels dropped significantly, while the control group faced an increase. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol decreased, while high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased. HDL is commonly labeled as “good” as it helps remove other types of cholesterol from your blood, which lowers the risk of developing heart conditions.
Observed reductions in oxidized LDL levels were particularly impressive, as researchers reported 40-45% lower levels in participants who consumed Citroven.
The intervention also improved the oxidative status of participants, with a 62-65% increase in oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSH). Participants also exhibited a 30-32% decrease in the protein carbonyl level, which is consistent with observed reduction of oxidized LDL. All of these findings suggest a significantly decreased risk of developing a cardiovascular condition.
Additionally, levels of recognized inflammation marker interleukin-6 (IL-6) decreased by 38-40%, improving the body’s inflammatory status.
Although these results show incredible promise, researchers warn that more clinical trials are needed to draw definite conclusions.
“All these findings, taken together, suggest a beneficial effect of the nutritional supplement on underlying mechanisms that may interact with each other to decrease the cardiovascular risk in healthy people. However, further randomized studies are needed to confirm the present results of this exploratory trial, in particular with a larger study population and consumption of the nutritional supplement over a longer period,” they concluded.