Does Centrum Cardio Work? (Cont.)

 
Does Centrum Cardio Work for Other Claims?
Centrum Cardio is also claimed to provide certain other heart-health benefits. However, the FDA has not evaluated these claims, and these products must carry a disclaimer that says the product is not designed to diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. These other heart-health benefits of Centrum Cardio include:
 
  • Promoting heart health due to the high content of vitamins B6 and B12
  • Preventing free-radical damage due to the antioxidant content, which includes vitamins C and E
  • Maintaining a healthy blood pressure due to the calcium and folic acid content.
     
Folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 have been shown to reduce high homocysteine levels, which are associated with heart disease and other heart-related problems. However, there is some controversy about whether lowering homocysteine levels actually decreases the risk of heart problems.
 
At this time, neither the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nor the American Heart Association (AHA) supports the use of antioxidants (such as vitamin E or vitamin C) for heart health. There is not enough evidence to know if vitamin E and vitamin C really have any benefit for heart health.
 
Some studies have shown that calcium and folic acid can slightly lower blood pressure, although more research is necessary to confirm these findings.
 

Final Thoughts on Centrum Cardio Effectiveness

Centrum Cardio is probably effective at lowering cholesterol and for reducing the risk of heart disease, based on its plant-sterol content. However, there is not enough evidence to know if Centrum Cardio really works for the other heart benefits. If you take Centrum Cardio and are concerned or curious about the effectiveness of this multivitamin, make sure to consult with your healthcare provider. He or she can help you monitor your progress by measuring your cholesterol levels or using other tests.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;