--- title: "Antioxidants and Heart Health | Sutter Health" description: "Can antioxidants help prevent a heart attack?" url: "/ask-an-expert/answers/antioxidants-heart-health-1051061238" --- 1. Home / 2. Antioxidants and Heart Health # Antioxidants and Heart Health * * * Medically reviewed by - Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS ## Question Can antioxidants help prevent a heart attack? ## Answer Research into the role of antioxidants in heart disease has been going on for a long period of time. To date there is no definitive evidence that antioxidant or vitamin supplements reduce the incidence of, or mortality from, heart disease. However, foods rich in antioxidants are still recommended. These foods have additional nutrients, such at flavonoids and lycopenes, which are usually not contained in supplements. A diet that includes fruits and vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants, is linked to a reduction in cardiovascular disease. The most important factors in reducing risk of heart disease remain: - Quitting smoking - Keeping LDL less than 100 (or less than 70 for high-risk patients) - Exercising - Controlling blood pressure - Avoiding obesity to reduce risk of diabetes - Having regular check ups with your doctor ## Explore related topics NutritionHeart health ## Meet our care team Junaid H. Khan, M.D., FACC, FACS Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery Cardiothoracic Surgery ## Related questions View all questions - Health Q&A ### Does Salt Raise Blood Pressure? Does salt raise blood pressure? - Health Q&A ### Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Diet I have a gluten and a dairy intolerance as well as high cholesterol. Do you have a diet suggestion that may address these issues and still allow me to enjoy meal times? I hate tofu! - Health Q&A ### Heart Disease and Vitamin D Deficiency I read recently that a vitamin D deficiency may be linked to increased heart disease. Should I be tested for this deficiency, and if I'm low, would a supplement take care of this increased risk? - Health Q&A ### Natural ways to lower blood pressure? I’m a 41-year-old woman who exercises regularly and eats healthy food. High cholesterol and high blood pressure run in my family. My blood pressure is borderline high. Are there natural ways to lower blood pressure without medications? - Health Q&A ### "Broken Heart Syndrome" - Stress Cardiomyopathy I've been through some bad loses this year (relationship, foreclosure) and have had chest pain and shortness of breath. My doctor said I had stress cardiomyopathy (broken heart syndrome). What are the other symptoms, is it dangerous, will I get it again? View all questions ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/antioxidants-heart-health-1051061238#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Antioxidants and Heart Health"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/antioxidants-heart-health-1051061238#medicalwebpage","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/antioxidants-heart-health-1051061238","name":"Antioxidants and Heart Health","description":"Research into the role of antioxidants in heart disease has been going on for a long period of time.","inLanguage":"en-US","medicalAudience":{"@type":"MedicalAudience","audienceType":"Patient"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/antioxidants-heart-health-1051061238#breadcrumblist"},"mainEntity":{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/antioxidants-heart-health-1051061238#question","name":"Antioxidants and Heart Health","text":"Can antioxidants help prevent a heart attack?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/antioxidants-heart-health-1051061238#answer","text":"Research into the role of antioxidants in heart disease has been going on for a long period of time. To date there is no definitive evidence that antioxidant or vitamin supplements reduce the incidence of, or mortality from, heart disease. However, foods rich in antioxidants are still recommended. These foods have additional nutrients, such at flavonoids and lycopenes, which are usually not contained in supplements. A diet that includes fruits and vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants, is linked to a reduction in cardiovascular disease. The most important factors in reducing risk of heart disease remain: Quitting smoking Keeping LDL less than 100 (or less than 70 for high-risk patients) Exercising Controlling blood pressure Avoiding obesity to reduce risk of diabetes Having regular check ups with your doctor","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/antioxidants-heart-health-1051061238","author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/antioxidants-heart-health-1051061238#expert"}}},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"reviewedBy":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/antioxidants-heart-health-1051061238#expert"}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/antioxidants-heart-health-1051061238#expert","name":"Junaid H. Khan","honorificSuffix":["M.D.","FACC","FACS"]} ```