A low-cost, widely available supplement called mitoquinone could help prevent heart failure in people with Type 2 diabetes, according to new research presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester. The findings offer hope for millions of patients living with diabetes, a condition that significantly increases the risk of heart disease and early death.
Researchers from the University of Leeds ran a four-month study involving 70 people with Type 2 diabetes. None of the participants had existing heart conditions.
Half were given a daily 40 mg dose of mitoquinone alongside their regular diabetes treatment, while the other half continued only with their usual care. At the end of the study, tests and heart scans showed that the group taking mitoquinone had healthier hearts than those who didn’t take the supplement.
Specifically, the hearts of those taking mitoquinone were able to use energy 15% more efficiently at rest, and they also showed improvements during exercise. The heart muscle was able to relax more quickly, a sign that early stress and stiffness—precursors to heart failure—had been reversed. In contrast, no similar improvements were seen in the group that received only standard treatment.
Mitoquinone is a type of antioxidant. It’s often sold online to people looking to boost their energy or slow down aging, but there has been little scientific proof until now that it could help people with chronic illnesses like diabetes. The supplement is believed to protect cells from metabolic stress, which is a major problem in people with diabetes.
Diabetes interferes with how the body uses energy, including in the heart, leading to damage in the heart muscle over time. This can cause the heart to become stiff and struggle to pump blood—a condition known as heart failure.
Dr. Henry Procter, the lead researcher, explained the importance of the results: “These encouraging findings suggest mitoquinone might help keep hearts healthier for longer in people with diabetes. If the study had gone on longer, we might have seen even greater differences in heart health.”
There were no major side effects reported, and the supplement did not interfere with blood sugar control. While none of the patients developed serious heart problems during the study, the researchers emphasize that these are early results and larger, longer trials are needed to confirm the benefits.
Type 2 diabetes affects around 90% of the 5.8 million people living with diabetes in the UK. People with the condition are up to five times more likely to develop heart failure than those without it. Once heart failure develops, it becomes a major risk for early death—patients with both diabetes and heart failure are three times more likely to die within five years.
Professor Bryan Williams of the British Heart Foundation praised the research, saying, “This study presents some intriguing initial findings. It’s still early, but it shows why we must continue exploring every possible solution to fight heart disease.”
Next, the research team hopes to launch a larger clinical trial to confirm whether mitoquinone can truly become a standard part of diabetes care—protecting the heart before problems start. If successful, this affordable supplement could one day help millions of people with diabetes live longer, healthier lives.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how vitamin D influences cholesterol levels, and what we know about egg intake and heart disease.
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