Hearty Ingredients

by Mike Straus | January 16, 2026

Here are some of the emerging advancements in ingredients that support heart health.

Heart health has become a prominent concern for consumers, with aging individuals looking for cardiovascular support in a variety of forms. As a result, ingredient suppliers are bringing to market a bevy of new ingredients that have been validated in clinical studies. These ingredients span the spectrum from herbals to minerals to omega-3 fatty acids and more. As emerging science continues to explore the heart health benefits of these ingredients, formulators will have more options than ever for creating effective supplements. Here are just some of the growing trends and advancements in heart health ingredients.

Heart Health Ingredients Go Comprehensive

Today’s heart health ingredients market is far more diverse than in the past, with modern heart health ingredients cropping up to support cardiovascular health in more ways than one. Steve Fink, vice president of marketing for PLT Health Solutions in Morristown, NJ, said that consumers now want formulas representing a comprehensive approach. These formulas, Fink said, could include functions like heart health support, plus vitality, plus circulatory support, plus metabolic health.

“Consumer behavior is shifting,” Fink said. “More people, including younger demographics, are taking a preventive approach to heart health. There is increasing demand for science-backed, multi-benefit, clean-label and plant-based formulations—especially as wellness consumers become more educated and discerning.”

Fink noted that while omega-3 fatty acids remain dominant in the heart health supplements category, growth is strong in herbals and botanicals. Emerging interest in newer bioactives like vitamin K2, polyphenols like grape seed extract and vitamin D are driving expansion.

HP Ingredients Chief Executive Officer Annie Eng in Bradenton, FL, said that research into Citrus bergamia Risso has been particularly innovative. HP Ingredients’ branded Bergamonte is a unique compound due to its profile of actives, Eng noted, with the juice and albedo of bergamot having a unique flavonoid and glycoside profile. According to Eng, various studies have validated Bergamonte’s multiple pathways for keeping cardiometabolic processes running smoothly. Firstly, studies have shown that Bergamonte inhibits HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme linked to cholesterol production.

“This natural statin-like pathway is one of the earliest and strongest documented mechanisms in the bergamot literature,” Eng explained.

Secondly, Bergamonte has been found in studies to inhibit phosphodiesterases, in particular PDE3B and PDE 4, which impact cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Finally, Bergamonte has been shown to activate AMP-activated protein kinase, an enzyme that ensures cellular energy output is maintained.

“The flavonoids in Bergamonte activate AMPK, which increases the glucose uptake available in cells to use as energy fuel,” Eng noted. “Some studies have shown that activating AMPK can inhibit abdominal fat accumulation and support glucose tolerance, while also reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver and heart.”

Consumers today are looking for comprehensive solutions, said Dominik Mattern, vice president of science, business development, and marketing for Balchem Human Nutrition and Health in Montvale, NJ. He explained that today’s consumers want it all, from vascular health to cholesterol support. In order to address this shifting demand, there are meaningful innovations happening in the heart health space, with a notable rise in multifunctional solutions.

“One example is our Vital Trio concept,” Mattern said. “It’s designed to help brands take advantage of the powerful synergy between vitamin K2, vitamin D and magnesium, which work together to contribute to vascular well-being and help maintain a healthy heart. This three-in-one formula brings together K2VITAL DELTA, the world’s only patented vitamin K2 to be microencapsulated in special double-coated beadlets, with our Albion Minerals chelated magnesium bisglycinate and vitamin D3 for immune, cardiovascular and bone health.”

Mattern noted that consumer research has revealed strong purchasing intent for this concept supplement. Seventy-four percent of respondents said that Vital Trio addresses unmet needs by providing a practical way to promote holistic well-being, he said, and many consumers praised the supplement’s on-the-go formula.

Another key area of innovation in heart health ingredients, Mattern said, is in methylation. He noted that folate can provide essential support for cardiovascular health thanks to its role in methylation and homocysteine metabolism; Balchem recently launched a branded bioactive, choline-enriched folate called Optifolin+ that provides seven times the methyl groups found in other folate products. As a result, Optifolin+ is uniquely positioned to support the balanced methylation and effective homocysteine metabolism that helps maintain cardiovascular health.

Greg Cumberford, head of science & regulatory for ingredient supplier Natures Crops International in Winston-Salem, NC, said that a major cultural shift is underway in healthy aging. Consumers are now focusing on healthspans, not just lifespans, with a goal of staying active and in good health even in old age. As a result, consumers are focused on proactively supporting foundational wellness earlier in life. Now, emerging solutions are making it easier for consumers of all ages to get effective doses of heart health ingredients while promoting other areas of health.

“Recently, leading omega-3 research experts are showing that pre-formed sources aren’t the only answer,” Cumberford said. “The human body can form EPA and DHA from omega-3 ALA and SDA precursors at least 10 times higher than previously thought. This changes everything when it comes to improving heart health through better omega-3 intake. Ahiflower oil addresses root cause aspects of improving one’s healthspan, like chronic low-grade inflammation, gut microbiome balance, and mitochondrial function, all while raising EPA levels and efficiently converting to DHA as the body requires.”

Omega-3 fatty acids are continuing to advance in other ways, according to Ståle Søfting, sales and marketing director for GC Rieber VivoMega in Norway. Highly concentrated omega-3 oils, such as VivoMega fish and algae oils, allow for higher doses of EPA and DHA in smaller pills, which can improve adherence to the recommended daily intake. Søfting also explained that this advancement makes it easier to create products with synergistic ingredient combinations.

Arterial stiffness is another area where ingredient suppliers are taking aim. Nicole Lemus, vice president of sales for Gnosis by Lesaffre in Lille, France, said there’s a growing understanding of the connection between arterial stiffness and high blood pressure, which are closely linked in a harmful cycle.

“As arteries stiffen with age, blood pressure rises, which, in turn, increases arterial stiffness, putting more stress on the heart and raising the risk of cardiovascular disease,” Lemus explained. “Maintaining or improving arterial elasticity is crucial to breaking this cycle and reducing cardiovascular risk. This is a newer area of heart health research.”

Emerging Studies Demonstrate Efficacy

New research is proving that a variety of heart health ingredients can support cardiovascular health in diverse ways. One clinical study published in the British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research examined the safety and efficacy of Nutrition21’s branded DeltaGold tocotrienols, particularly delta- and gamma-tocotrienol, in maintaining healthy lipid levels and modulating inflammatory biomarkers in individuals with untreated high cholesterol. The study found that in individuals with untreated high cholesterol, 250 mg per day of tocotrienols combined with a heart-healthy diet lowered total cholesterol by 15 percent, LDL by 18 percent, and triglycerides by 14 percent from baseline within four weeks. The study also found that this combined diet and supplementation regimen reduced inflammatory cytokines by up to 64 percent, and improved certain microRNAs linked to cardiovascular health.1

“Our ingredient, DeltaGold, is a unique source of tocotrienols from annatto shown to support cardiovascular and metabolic health,” said Shelby Agan, MS, senior scientific affairs manager at New Jersey-based Nutrition21. “(This study) confirmed that tocotrienols, particularly delta- and gamma-tocotrienol, are a safe, natural option to help maintain healthy lipid levels and modulate inflammatory biomarkers related to cardiovascular function when combined with a heart-healthy diet.”

Recent research has also confirmed the efficacy of vitamin K2 in improving vascular stiffness and overall cardiovascular sufficiency. A new post-hoc analysis of a previous one-year study examined the effects of Gnosis by Lesaffre’s branded MenaQ7 ingredient, a form of vitamin K2 known as menaquinone-7, on cardiovascular outcomes in 78 pre- and peri-menopausal women and 87 post-menopausal women with inactive Matrix Gla protein levels greater than 400 pmol/L at baseline (a biomarker of low vitamin K2).

The study found that after one year, MK-7 supplementation improved vascular flexibility by significantly attenuating vascular stiffness. The researchers saw large baseline differences in vascular stiffness between subjects, so both groups of women were further divided into high- and low-stiffness groups. The post-hoc analysis found that post-menopausal women with high stiffness at baseline showed significant improvements in multiple vascular markers after MK-7 supplementation, as well as lower blood pressure in the brachial and carotid arteries.2

Meanwhile, another new study—a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial—assessed the protective effect of two years of supplementation with Gnosis by Lesaffre’s branded MenaQ7 against the progression of coronary artery calcification in men and women. The study found that MenaQ7 supplementation was able to significantly slow the rate of progression of arterial calcification while reducing inactive matrix Gla protein levels.3

Formulation Concerns for Finished-product Brands

Agan said that when selecting ingredients for heart health, manufacturers and finished-product brands should ensure safety and efficacy by choosing ingredients backed by clinical scientific support. Consumers, Agan explained, are increasingly discerning, and products supported by credible research will earn greater consumer trust and loyalty.

“Partnering with reputable manufacturers enables brands to bring high-quality, differentiated products to market that align with regulatory standards, meet the expectations of health-conscious consumers, and support growth in an increasingly competitive market,” Agan said.

Balchem’s Mattern noted that while many nutrients have the potential to support cardiovascular health, consumers can only benefit from heart health ingredients that are both stable and bioavailable. Vitamin K2, he said, is an example. Vitamin K2 is highly sensitive by nature, and when left unprotected, it can degrade rapidly under certain conditions or when used in formulations with other minerals like magnesium.

“At Balchem, we’ve harnessed microencapsulation technology to help formulators overcome these common stability challenges with vitamin K2,” he explained. “K2Vital Delta is the first and only patented vitamin K2 MK-7 to be microencapsulated in special double-coated beadlets, ensuring complete stability in most environments.”

Mattern said that stability and bioavailability challenges can also come from factors outside of a formulation. In mineral-based solutions, for instance, the presence of anti-nutrients like phytates and oxalates in consumer diets can impact the efficacy of a heart health product.

“Manufacturers can navigate this anti-nutrient challenge by using chelated minerals in their heart health formulations,” he noted. “Chelation binds minerals to amino acids like glycine, creating a protective ring structure that shields them from anti-nutrient interference while also facilitating superior absorption. For example, laboratory testing of our Albion Minerals magnesium bisglycinate chelate has shown it offers absorption rates up to five times greater than other magnesium salts.”

Søfting, meanwhile, warned that not all omega-3 fatty acids are the same. As a result, it’s essential for supplement manufacturers and ingredient suppliers to understand how these omega-3 fatty acids differ. Over the past 10 years, he said, GC Rieber VivoMega has focused on enhancing quality through advanced technologies to ensure that VivoMega meets consumer demands.

“Our VivoSens technology analyzes the components responsible for the taste and smell of omega-3 oils,” Søfting said. “This method separates the volatile components that contribute to the sensory profile from the oil, then identifies and quantifies them using a standard curve with known concentrations. This sophisticated process allows VivoMega to deliver an objective sensory performance rating and a reproducible specification limit from batch to batch.”

Delivery systems for heart health ingredients are also diversifying. Eng noted that intermingling supplements with protein shakes is a trend that’s gaining momentum with younger consumers. Emerging research is showing that this combination approach could be quite effective in providing consumers with heart health benefits. One study followed 44 overweight but otherwise healthy subjects with risk factors for cardiometabolic disorders. In this study, the subjects followed a 13-week diet and lifestyle modification program combining low-glycemic-load protein shakes with bergamot (Citrus bergamia) extract. The study found that combining protein shakes with bergamot extract improved weight loss and cardiometabolic risk factors, demonstrating the potential for developing next-generation protein shakes.4

“Next-generation product development could also include, in addition to heart-healthy protein shakes, metabolic-support beverage mixes, cardiometabolic daily drink shots, and smoothie boosters targeting cholesterol, triglycerides, energy metabolism and inflammation,” said Eng.

Heart Health Ingredients Set for Growth

The heart health market is rapidly expanding as a result of younger consumers looking for proactive solutions and older individuals seeking dietary alternatives to prescription medications. Emerging research is validating the role of minerals, botanicals and vitamins in the maintenance and promotion of heart health, from vitamin K2 for arterial stiffness to bergamot for cardiometabolic risk factors and more. Heart health ingredients are also taking a more comprehensive focus, supporting cardiovascular and metabolic health through a variety of different pathways. As the heart health market expands, expect more opportunities for clinically validated ingredients that can exert multimodal effects. NIE

References:

1 Qureshi A.A. et al. “Dose-dependent modulation of lipid parameters, cytokines and RNA by delta-tocotrienol in hypercholesterolemic subjects restricted to AHA step-1 diet.” Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research, vol. 6 no. 4 (2015): 351-366.

2 De Vries F et al. “Effects on one-year menaquinone-7 supplementation on vascular stiffness and blood pressure in post-menopausal women.” Nutrients, vol. 17 no. 5 (2025): 815.

3 Vossen L et al. “Menaquinone-7 slows down progression of coronary artery calcification: A randomized, placebo-controlled trial.” Journal of Hypertension, vol. 43 suppl. 1 (May 2025): e18.

4 Dahlberg CJ et al. “A 13-week low glycemic load diet and lifestyle modification program combining low glycemic load protein shakes and targeted nutraceuticals improved weight loss and cardio-metabolic risk factors.” Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology, vol. 95 no. 12 (December 2017): 1414-1425.