Have any supplements been studied for peripheral arterial disease?

    Last Updated: October 25, 2023

    Several supplements have been studied in people with peripheral arterial disease. These include alpha-lipoic acid, arginine, carnitine, creatine, fish oil (which contains omega-3 fatty acids), flaxseed, ginkgo biloba, nitrate, resveratrol, etc. For many of these supplements, including creatine, omega-3 fatty acids, and ginkgo biloba, there is no clear benefit.[1][2][3][4][5][6] However, carnitine supplementation lowers intermittent claudication (calf pain during exercise) and increases walking distance in people with peripheral arterial disease.[7] Furthermore, emerging data show that nitrate supplementation can improve limb blood flow, vascular function, and exercise capacity in people with peripheral arterial disease.[8][9][10][11]

    References

    1. ^Domingues WJR, Ritti-Dias RM, Cucato GG, Wolosker N, Zerati AE, Puech-Leão P, Coelho DB, Nunhes PM, Moliterno AA, Avelar AEffect of Creatine Supplementation on Functional Capacity and Muscle Oxygen Saturation in Patients with Symptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Pilot Study of a Randomized, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.Nutrients.(2021-Jan-05)
    2. ^Bork CS, Lasota AN, Lundbye-Christensen S, Jakobsen MU, Tjønneland A, Calder PC, Schmidt EB, Overvad KIntake of α-linolenic acid is not consistently associated with a lower risk of peripheral artery disease: results from a Danish cohort study.Br J Nutr.(2019-Jul-14)
    3. ^Enns JE, Yeganeh A, Zarychanski R, Abou-Setta AM, Friesen C, Zahradka P, Taylor CGThe impact of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on the incidence of cardiovascular events and complications in peripheral arterial disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC Cardiovasc Disord.(2014-May-31)
    4. ^Campbell A, Price J, Hiatt WROmega-3 fatty acids for intermittent claudication.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2013-Jul-04)
    5. ^Nicolaï SP, Kruidenier LM, Bendermacher BL, Prins MH, Stokmans RA, Broos PP, Teijink JAGinkgo biloba for intermittent claudication.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2013-Jun-06)
    6. ^McDermott MM, Leeuwenburgh C, Guralnik JM, Tian L, Sufit R, Zhao L, Criqui MH, Kibbe MR, Stein JH, Lloyd-Jones D, Anton SD, Polonsky TS, Gao Y, de Cabo R, Ferrucci LEffect of Resveratrol on Walking Performance in Older People With Peripheral Artery Disease: The RESTORE Randomized Clinical Trial.JAMA Cardiol.(2017-Aug-01)
    7. ^Kamoen V, Vander Stichele R, Campens L, De Bacquer D, Van Bortel L, de Backer TLPropionyl-L-carnitine for intermittent claudication.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.(2021-Dec-26)
    8. ^Kruse NT, Ueda K, Hughes WE, Casey DPEight weeks of nitrate supplementation improves blood flow and reduces the exaggerated pressor response during forearm exercise in peripheral artery disease.Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol.(2018-Jul-01)
    9. ^Bock JM, Treichler DP, Norton SL, Ueda K, Hughes WE, Casey DPInorganic nitrate supplementation enhances functional capacity and lower-limb microvascular reactivity in patients with peripheral artery disease.Nitric Oxide.(2018-Nov-01)
    10. ^Pekas EJ, Wooden TK, Yadav SK, Park SYBody mass-normalized moderate dose of dietary nitrate intake improves endothelial function and walking capacity in patients with peripheral artery disease.Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol.(2021-Aug-01)
    11. ^Hughes WE, Treichler DP, Ueda K, Bock JM, Casey DPSodium nitrate supplementation improves blood pressure reactivity in patients with peripheral artery disease.Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis.(2022-Mar)