0
0
Manchester, UK – June 7, 2025
A widely available and inexpensive supplement may offer new hope in the fight against heart disease for people with Type 2 diabetes, according to new research presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference this week.
Researchers from the University of Leeds found that daily use of mitoquinone—a popular antioxidant supplement—alongside standard diabetes treatment led to significant improvements in heart health after just four months. The study, which involved 70 participants with Type 2 diabetes but no existing heart conditions, found that those taking mitoquinone showed a reversal of early signs of diabetes-related heart failure compared to those on standard treatment alone.
Key Findings
-
Improved Heart Function: After four months, patients taking mitoquinone processed and used energy in their hearts 15% more efficiently at rest. Improvements were also observed during exercise.
-
Reduced Heart Stress: The supplement group’s heart muscles were able to relax more quickly, indicating a reversal of early metabolic stress and stiffness.
-
No Major Side Effects: None of the participants developed dangerous heart symptoms or experienced significant side effects from mitoquinone.
Dr. Henry Procter, the study’s lead author, commented, “These encouraging results are a sign that mitoquinone could keep hearts healthier for longer in people with diabetes. If the study had continued for longer, it is likely we would have started to see differences in more serious indicators of heart health between the group with mitoquinone and the group without.”
The Growing Risk of Heart Failure in Diabetes
With more than 5.8 million people living with diabetes in the UK—90% of whom have Type 2—the risk of heart failure is a major concern. Diabetic patients are up to five times more likely to develop heart failure, and once diagnosed, face a threefold increase in mortality over the next five years.
The metabolic stress caused by diabetes can damage heart muscle cells over time, leading to the heart becoming stiff and less able to pump blood effectively. Mitoquinone is believed to protect against this stress, but until now, clinical data supporting its use in diabetic patients has been limited.
Next Steps
The Leeds research team plans to launch a larger clinical trial to confirm these findings and determine whether mitoquinone could become a standard preventive treatment for heart failure in diabetes patients.
Professor Bryan Williams, chief scientific and medical officer at the British Heart Foundation, noted, “This study presents some intriguing initial findings. It’s still early days for this research and the results will need to be confirmed in a larger scale trial.”
What Does This Mean for Patients?
While the results are promising, experts caution that more research is needed before mitoquinone can be routinely recommended for heart protection in diabetes. Patients are advised not to start any new supplement regimen without consulting their healthcare provider.
Disclaimer:
This article summarizes recent scientific findings and is intended for informational purposes only. Mitoquinone is not currently approved as a treatment for heart disease in diabetes patients. Individuals should consult their healthcare professional before making any changes to their medication or supplement routine. The results discussed are from a preliminary study and require further validation in larger clinical trials.
