Medical Condition Cardiovascular Disease Unspecified

Source:

2009 icd-9-cm diagnosis 429.2 - cardiovascular disease unspecified

Active Ingredients used for Cardiovascular Disease Unspecified:

Dhea, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Selenium, Beta Carotene, Arginine, Ginkgo, Soy, Green Tea, Danshen, Evening Primrose Oil, Omega 3 Fatty Acids Fish Oil Alpha Linolenic Acid

Active Ingredient	Uses based on scientific evidence	Grade*
arginine (l-arginine)	early evidence from several studies suggests that arginine taken by mouth or by injection may improve exercise tolerance and blood flow in arteries of the heart. benefits have been shown in some patients with coronary artery disease and chest pain (called angina). however, more research is needed to confirm these findings and to develop safe and effective doses.	b
beta-carotene	although several studies suggest that diets high in fruits and vegetables containing beta-carotene appear to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, most randomized controlled trials with oral supplements of beta-carotene have not supported these claims. a science advisory from the american heart association states that the evidence does not justify the use of antioxidants such as beta-carotene for reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.	d
chamomile (matricaria recutita, chamaemelum nobile)	chamomile is not well-known for its cardiac effects, and there is little research in this area. large, well-designed randomized controlled trials are needed before a firm conclusion can be made.	c
danshen (salvia miltiorrhiza)	a small number of poor-quality studies report that danshen may provide benefits for treating disorders of the heart and blood vessels, including heart attacks, cardiac chest pain (angina), or myocarditis. danshen may have effects on blood clotting and therefore may be unsafe when combined with other drugs used in patients with cardiovascular disease. patients should check with a physician and pharmacist before combining danshen with prescription drugs.	c
dhea	initial studies report possible benefits of dhea supplementation in patients with cholesterol plaques ("hardening") in their arteries. there is conflicting scientific evidence regarding the use of dhea supplements in patients with heart failure or diminished ejection fraction. other therapies are more proven in this area, and patients with heart failure or other types of heart disease should discuss treatment options with a cardiologist.	c
evening primrose oil (oenothera biennis l.)	early study of evening primrose oil shows a lack of beneficial effects on cardiovascular function and health.	d
ginkgo (ginkgo biloba l.)	animal and limited human data suggest a role in heart blood flow. more research is needed in this area.	c
ginseng (american ginseng, asian ginseng, chinese ginseng, korean red ginseng, panax ginseng: panax spp. including p. ginseng c.c. meyer and p. quinquefolius l., excluding eleutherococcus senticosus)	several studies from china report that ginseng in combination with various other herbs may reduce symptoms of coronary artery disease. without further evidence on the effects of ginseng specifically, a firm conclusion cannot be reached.	c
green tea (camellia sinensis)	there is early suggestive evidence that regular intake of green tea may reduce the risk of heart attack or atherosclerosis (clogged arteries). further well-designed clinical trials are needed before a firm recommendation can be made in this area.	c
omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid	several studies report that regular consumption of oily fish or fish oil/omega-3 supplements reduces the risk of non-fatal heart attacks, fatal heart attacks, sudden death, and deaths due to any cause in people with histories of heart attacks. most patients in these studies were also using standard heart drugs, suggesting that the benefits of fish oils may add to the effects of other therapies.	a
omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid	several large studies of populations (called epidemiological studies) report a significantly lower rate of death from heart disease in people who regularly eat fish. other epidemiological research reports no such benefits. it is unclear if benefits only occur in certain groups of people, such as those at risk of developing heart disease. fish oil is also associated with improved blood vessel functioning and decreased resting heart rate. overall, the evidence suggests benefits of regular	b
omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid	additional research is necessary before a conclusion can be drawn in this area.	c
omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil, alpha-linolenic acid	several randomized controlled trials have examined the effects of alpha-linolenic acid in people with histories of heart attacks. although some studies suggest benefits, others do not. additional research is needed before a conclusion can be drawn in this area.	c
scotch broom (cytisus scoparius linn.) herb and flower, sparteine	scotch broom herb has been taken by mouth traditionally for a variety of conditions related to the heart or blood circulation. these include abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), fast heart rate (tachycardia), swelling in the legs (peripheral edema), water in the lungs (pulmonary edema, congestive heart failure), and low blood pressure (hypotension). scotch broom flower has been taken by mouth traditionally for tachycardia and to reduce leg swelling by increasing urination (diuretic), as well as	c
selenium (se)	despite the documented antioxidant and chemopreventive properties of selenium, studies of the effects of selenium intake and supplementation on cardiovascular disease yield inconsistent findings. better-designed trials are needed to reach a firm recommendation.	c
soy (glycine max [l. merr.)]	dietary soy protein has not been shown to affect long-term cardiovascular outcomes, such as heart attack or stroke. research does suggest cholesterol-lowering effects of dietary soy, which in theory, may reduce the risk of heart problems. soy has also been studied for blood pressure-lowering and blood sugar-reducing properties in people with type 2 diabetes, although the evidence is not definitive in these areas. further investigation is needed before a strong recommendation can be made.	c
vitamin b12	hyperhomocysteinemia (high homocysteine levels in the blood) is a risk factor for coronary, cerebral, and peripheral atherosclerosis, recurrent thromboembolism, deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and ischemic stroke. elevated homocysteine levels may be a marker instead of a cause of vascular disease. however, it is not clear if lowering homocysteine levels results in reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. folic acid, pyridoxine (vitamin b6), and vitamin b12	c
vitamin b6	high homocysteine levels in the blood (hyperhomocysteinemia) are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, blood clotting abnormalities, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and ischemic stroke. taking pyridoxine supplements alone or in combination with folic acid has been shown to be effective for lowering homocysteine levels. however, it is not clear if lowering homocysteine levels results in reduced cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. until definitive data is available, the current	c

*Key to grades
A: Strong scientific evidence for this use;
B: Good scientific evidence for this use;
C: Unclear scientific evidence for this use;
D: Fair scientific evidence against this use;
F: Strong scientific evidence against this use.