A low-cost over-the-counter supplement might help prevent heart failure in people with Type 2 diabetes, according to new research presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester.
The study focused on a supplement called mitoquinone, an antioxidant that’s already available for public purchase.
Researchers found that diabetes patients who took mitoquinone daily—along with their usual diabetes treatment—showed healthier heart function after just four months compared to those who did not take the supplement.
In fact, signs of early heart damage caused by diabetes began to reverse in those taking mitoquinone.
Dr. Henry Procter, a clinical research fellow at the University of Leeds and lead author of the study, said the results are promising.
“If the study had lasted longer, we believe we would’ve seen even bigger improvements in key measures of heart health,” he said. He hopes that one day, mitoquinone can be officially prescribed to people with diabetes to help stop heart failure before it starts.
Currently, more than 5.8 million people in the U.K. have diabetes, and around 90% of them have Type 2.
This form of diabetes makes people up to five times more likely to develop heart failure. Once diagnosed with heart failure, their risk of death within five years triples.
Diabetes disrupts how the body, including the heart, handles energy. Over time, this leads to stress and damage in heart muscle cells. Eventually, the heart can become stiff and weak, unable to pump blood effectively.
Mitoquinone is believed to protect cells from this kind of stress by acting as an antioxidant. While it’s often marketed online to athletes for boosting energy and healthy aging, little was previously known about its true impact on heart health in people with diabetes.
In the study, researchers recruited 70 people with Type 2 diabetes who did not already have heart disease. Half were given a daily 40 mg mitoquinone tablet along with their usual diabetes treatment, while the other half received only their standard treatment.
After four months, the group taking mitoquinone had hearts that used energy more efficiently—15% better at rest—and were better able to relax after each beat. These are early signs of improved heart function.
No participants developed serious heart issues during the study, and mitoquinone didn’t appear to affect their diabetes control or cause any major side effects.
The researchers now plan a larger trial to confirm these findings. If successful, mitoquinone could become a new way to protect the hearts of people with Type 2 diabetes and reduce their risk of heart failure.
Professor Bryan Williams of the British Heart Foundation called the study “intriguing” and emphasized the importance of continuing to support this kind of research.
If you care about heart health, please read studies about how eating eggs can help reduce heart disease risk, and herbal supplements could harm your heart rhythm.
For more health information, please see recent studies that olive oil may help you live longer, and vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
