Heart Support

Heart Support is Marek's multi-pathway cardiovascular formula — seven ingredients chosen to support healthy endothelial function, heart energy production, healthy circulation, lipid metabolism, and antioxidant protection.‡

One capsule daily with food. Built for daily foundational cardiovascular support.‡

No. Heart Support is a dietary supplement that provides nutrients and botanicals studied in cardiovascular research contexts. It is not a medication, it does not treat heart disease, and it is not a replacement for any prescribed cardiovascular therapy.‡

If you take prescription cardiovascular medications — statins, blood pressure medications, anticoagulants, antiplatelets, or anti-arrhythmics — do not stop them. Heart Support may be appropriate as an adjunct alongside medication for some people, but that decision is one to make with your healthcare provider.

Marketing language like "cardioprotective" sits in legally and clinically loaded territory. Heart Support is positioned for what it actually is: daily foundational support for the pathways and tissues involved in normal cardiovascular function in healthy adults.‡

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble molecule produced by the body and concentrated in tissues with high energy demand, the heart in particular. It plays two roles that make it a centerpiece of cardiovascular nutrition research.‡

The first is mitochondrial. CoQ10 sits inside the electron transport chain, the cellular machinery that produces ATP. Heart muscle has more mitochondria per cell than almost any other tissue because it contracts continuously and never rests. Adequate CoQ10 status supports the heart's energy production capacity.‡

The second is endothelial. The endothelium, the single-cell-thick lining of all blood vessels, is metabolically demanding and produces signaling molecules (nitric oxide chief among them) that regulate vascular tone and function. CoQ10 has been studied for its effects on markers of endothelial function in randomized controlled trials, with recent systematic reviews showing supportive effects on flow-mediated dilation, a measure of endothelial health.‡

CoQ10 production naturally declines with age, and dietary intake provides only modest amounts. The Heart Support formula provides 100 mg of CoQ10 per capsule — a dose used in much of the relevant cardiovascular research.‡

References:

• CoQ10 and endothelial function — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38630421/
• CoQ10 and flow-mediated dilation — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22088605/

Geranylgeraniol — usually shortened to GG — is a 20-carbon molecule produced by the body as part of the mevalonate pathway, the same biosynthetic pathway that produces cholesterol, CoQ10, and several other cardiovascular-relevant molecules.‡

GG sits at a branch point in that pathway. It serves as a substrate for the synthesis of CoQ10 and for the post-translational modification ("prenylation") of certain proteins involved in cellular signaling. Without adequate GG, the downstream products of the mevalonate pathway can become limited.‡

Heart Support provides 150 mg of GG as GG-Gold®, a patented annatto-derived geranylgeraniol ingredient used in most of the recent human research on GG supplementation.

Reference: Geranylgeraniol review — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10691100/

Nattokinase is a serine protease enzyme produced during the fermentation of soybeans by Bacillus subtilis natto — the same fermentation that produces the traditional Japanese food natto. It is notable in cardiovascular research for its fibrinolytic activity: in laboratory and human studies, nattokinase has been shown to support the breakdown of fibrin, the protein matrix that forms during normal blood clotting.‡

Healthy circulation depends on a continuous balance between coagulation (forming clots when needed) and fibrinolysis (breaking down clots once they've served their purpose). Nattokinase has been studied in the context of supporting that fibrinolytic side of the equation, with research literature exploring its role in supporting healthy circulation.‡

Heart Support provides 100 mg of nattokinase standardized to 2,000 FU (fibrinolytic units) per capsule.

Important safety note: because of nattokinase's effect on the fibrinolytic system, this ingredient is the single most important reason to talk to your healthcare provider before adding Heart Support to a routine that includes any blood-thinning or antiplatelet medication. See the medication-interactions FAQ below.

Reference: Nattokinase and circulation pathways — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6043915/

Four ingredients that round out the formula beyond the core (CoQ10, GG–Gold®, nattokinase), each chosen for distinct cardiovascular-relevant pathways.

• Garlic extract (standardized to 1% allicin). Garlic is one of the most-studied culinary botanicals in cardiovascular nutrition research, with a substantial body of randomized trial data on its role in supporting healthy lipid metabolism, blood pressure within the normal range, and vascular function. Heart Support uses a standardized garlic extract — the form used in most of the relevant clinical research.‡
• Dihydroberberine (as GlucoVantage®). The same DHB used in Marek Berberine⁵. However, in Heart Support, the emphasis isn't supporting healthy glucose metabolism; the research literature on berberine also includes effects on markers of lipid metabolism. DHB is the bioavailable form that delivers comparable exposure to standard berberine HCl at roughly 1/5th the dose, with substantially better GI tolerability.‡ If you also take Berberine⁵, see the stacking FAQ below.
• PQQ (pyrroloquinoline quinone). PQQ is a small redox-active molecule studied for its role in mitochondrial biogenesis — the cellular process of producing new mitochondria. Heart tissue depends heavily on mitochondrial function for its energy demands, which is why PQQ appears in cardiovascular formulas alongside CoQ10. Human research has shown that PQQ supplementation affects markers related to mitochondrial biogenesis and cellular energy metabolism.‡
• Mixed tocotrienols (containing gamma tocotrienols). Tocotrienols are a structurally distinct sub-family of the vitamin E family — different from the alpha-tocopherol that appears in most vitamins. They have their own research literature in antioxidant defense, cardiovascular pathway support, and cellular signaling.‡

References:

• Garlic and cardiovascular risk factors —https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40580481/
• Dihydroberberine bioavailability — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8746601/
• PQQ and mitochondrial biogenesis — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31860387/
• Tocotrienols and cellular signaling — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8143145/

Take one capsule daily with food, preferably a meal that contains some dietary fat.‡

The "with food" part covers two things. First, CoQ10 and the mixed tocotrienols are fat-soluble, so taking Heart Support with a meal that contains some fat improves absorption. Second, GI tolerance: some people find herbal extracts more comfortable with food.

Timing within the day is flexible. Most people take Heart Support with lunch or dinner. If you also take Berberine⁵, an easy approach is to put Heart Support at dinner and Berberine⁵ doses with breakfast and lunch.

Daily consistency is the protocol. Cardiovascular pathway support is foundational and operates at the level of nutrient status and pathway availability over weeks to months — not as an acute single-dose effect.‡

This is a critical conversation to have with your prescribing provider before adding Heart Support — and depending on the medication, the answer may be that Heart Support isn't appropriate.

Blood thinners and antiplatelet medications (warfarin/Coumadin, apixaban/Eliquis, rivaroxaban/Xarelto, dabigatran/Pradaxa, clopidogrel/Plavix, prasugrel/Effient, aspirin therapy, others). This is the single most important medication category to flag. Heart Support contains nattokinase (a fibrinolytic enzyme) and garlic extract (which has antiplatelet effects in the research literature). Both can amplify the effects of blood-thinning medications and increase bleeding risk. Do not add Heart Support to a regimen that includes any anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication without explicit guidance from your prescribing provider.

Statins and other cholesterol medications (atorvastatin/Lipitor, simvastatin/Zocor, rosuvastatin/Crestor, pravastatin, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors). Heart Support's CoQ10 and geranylgeraniol both relate to the mevalonate pathway that statins affect. This is not the same thing as saying Heart Support treats statin side effects — it doesn't — but the biological relevance is direct enough that your provider should weigh in. Berberine and garlic have also been studied for effects on lipid metabolism; combining them with statins is a clinical decision to be made with your prescribing provider.

Blood pressure medications (any class: ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics). Garlic and CoQ10 have been associated with effects on blood pressure within the normal range in some research. Adding either to a regimen that already controls blood pressure pharmacologically could affect dosing. Discuss with your prescribing provider.

Glucose-lowering medications (insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas, GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, SGLT2 inhibitors). Heart Support contains dihydroberberine, which can affect glucose handling. Combining with prescription glucose-lowering medications may increase the risk of hypoglycemia.

Other cardiovascular medications (anti-arrhythmics and others not listed above). Talk to your prescribing provider; interactions vary, and the right answer depends on your specific medication, condition, and clinical picture.

Talk to your healthcare provider before starting Heart Support if you:

• Take any blood-thinning or antiplatelet medication — warfarin, apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), dabigatran (Pradaxa), clopidogrel (Plavix), aspirin therapy, or others. Nattokinase and garlic can increase bleeding risk.
• Take statins or other cholesterol-lowering medications.
• Take blood pressure medications of any class.
• Take any glucose-lowering medication — insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas, GLP-1 agonists, SGLT2 inhibitors.
• Have a diagnosed cardiovascular condition (heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, atrial fibrillation, history of stroke or DVT, hypertension under treatment, or related conditions).
• Have a bleeding disorder, are scheduled for surgery within the next two weeks, or have recently had surgery.
• Have liver or kidney disease.
• Have a soy allergy or sensitivity. Heart Support contains soy.
• Are pregnant, nursing, or trying to conceive.
• Are under 18.

Heart Support is a dietary supplement and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, including any cardiovascular condition. If you're managing a condition or under medical supervision, work with your provider to determine whether Heart Support fits your protocol.