With heart disease continuing to be a leading cause of death throughout the world, researchers continue to look at how diet, supplements and other habits can impact the development of heart disease. Here is a rundown of some new studies that continue to shed light on how to prevent (or in some cases, not prevent) heart disease:

As most doctors have suspected for a while, vitamin D seems to have minimal effect on your heart and circulation system. This new study seems to confirm that fact.  Certainly, people with a severe deficiency should have replacement therapy, but routine use does not appear to have a significant preventive benefit.

The news with multivitamins is similar. We have suspected this for a while (see our prior article on the role of supplements) but now a large study on thousands of patients (in this case, limited to men) seems to confirm that routine multivitamin use really does not prevent future heart disease. This does not exclude other benefits, but reinforces our recommendation that multivitamins are probably not needed for those with a well-rounded diet.

How about fish oil? Here is a link to a nice updated article addressing which patients may benefit from omega-3 fatty acids. Despite high hopes, no studies have really shown a broad benefit to most healthy adults. But those with specific conditions may benefit.

These studies reinforce the Heart Health Doctors’ dietary advice – eat a balanced diet low in processed foods, unnecessary carbs (especially wheat-based) and saturated fats, and watch the total calories. As always, you should consult with your health provider about what specific diet is best for your health, and your medical conditions.

Here are our earlier articles on diet, supplements and heart disease:

Which Supplements Improve Wellness and Prevent Heart Disease?

Heart Healthy Diet – 10 eating tips

Do Healthy Adults benefit from Fish Oil?