Coronary Heart Disease

Nutrients connected to Coronary Heart Disease

A link means the body needs the nutrient for this, or that low intake is linked to it. It does not mean extra supplements help if your intake is already adequate; each link shows how strong the evidence is.

• Fish oilPreliminary or mixed

  Reviews show a possible slight reduction in coronary events (low certainty) but little or no effect on overall death or heart events.

• Omega-3 fatty acids (ALA, EPA and DHA)Preliminary or mixed

  Pooled trials show a possible small reduction in coronary events (low certainty). Results differ between EPA-only and EPA+DHA trials.

• Omega-6 fatty acidsPreliminary or mixed

  Higher linoleic acid intake was linked to about 15 percent lower coronary heart disease events in a pooled cohort analysis; trials of eating more omega-6 show little or no difference in events, and one older trial found higher deaths.

• Margarine & Plant-Oil SpreadsDocumented risk

  Industrial trans fat intake was linked to higher coronary heart disease risk.

• Bone Health FormulasDocumented risk

  Some meta-analyses of calcium supplement trials reported more heart attacks; not settled.

• Whole Wheat & Wheat BerriesPreliminary or mixed

  Cohort meta-analysis: relative risk 0.81 per 90 g whole grain a day. Association only.

• Khorasan Wheat (Kamut)Preliminary or mixed

  In 22 patients with acute coronary syndrome, risk markers (cholesterol, glucose, insulin, oxidative stress, TNF-alpha) improved on khorasan products; this is markers, not heart attacks.

• Oat BranPreliminary or mixed

  FDA allows a "may reduce the risk" claim for qualifying oat foods as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol; trials show LDL change, not fewer events.

• LentilsPreliminary or mixed

  Observational studies link higher legume intake to lower coronary heart disease risk (RR 0.90). An association is not proof.

• Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)Preliminary or mixed

  Observational studies link higher legume intake to lower coronary heart disease risk (RR 0.90). An association is not proof.

• Split PeasPreliminary or mixed

  Observational studies link higher legume intake to lower coronary heart disease risk (RR 0.90). An association is not proof.

• Soy Foods (Soybeans)Preliminary or mixed

  Observational studies link soy and isoflavone intake with lower coronary heart disease risk (relative risk 0.83 for soy in 2017; 0.92 for isoflavones in 2024). They cannot prove cause.

• Edamame (Green Soybeans)Preliminary or mixed

  Observational studies link higher legume intake with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (relative risk 0.90). They do not prove cause, and soybeans were not analyzed separately.

• TofuPreliminary or mixed

  In three large US cohorts, eating tofu at least weekly was linked with a lower risk of coronary heart disease (hazard ratio 0.82). It is observational and cannot prove cause.

• Canned Beans (Drained, Rinsed)Preliminary or mixed

  Cohort studies link higher legume intake with lower coronary heart disease risk (relative risk 0.90); certainty was low.

• Extra Virgin Olive OilPreliminary or mixed

  Cohort links, a revised diet trial and a cautious FDA claim; not proof for the oil alone.

• Canola OilPreliminary or mixed

  FDA qualified claim: limited and not conclusive evidence.

• Flaxseed OilPreliminary or mixed

  Cochrane: more ALA probably makes little or no difference to heart deaths and may slightly lower events.

• Sunflower OilPreliminary or mixed

  Swapping saturated for polyunsaturated fat reduces coronary events in pooled trials. In 200 people with coronary heart disease, sunflower oil and coconut oil cooking gave no significant difference over 2 years.

• Soybean & Vegetable OilPreliminary or mixed

  Pooled trials show fewer coronary events when polyunsaturated oils replace saturated fat; omega-6 trials add little beyond that.

• Corn OilPreliminary or mixed

  Pooled trials show fewer coronary events with polyunsaturated oil in place of saturated fat, but the Minnesota Coronary Experiment did not show fewer deaths with a corn-oil diet.

• Cod Liver Oil & Fish Oil (Food View)Preliminary or mixed

  Low-certainty evidence of a small drop in coronary events; little effect on deaths.

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