This Cheap Tablet May Help Prevent Heart Failure, Says Study

Last Updated:June 04, 2025, 18:22 IST

Researchers found the drug reduced heart stiffness caused by diabetes, which weakens energy conversion in the heart and raises the risk of sudden heart failure

A new study has revealed that an inexpensive medication can significantly reduce the risk of heart failure or heart attack in diabetes patients. According to the study, diabetes patients who took the affordable drug Mitoquinone had a much lower risk of heart attack compared to those who did not take the medication. Priced at just 90 pence in Britain, Mitoquinone is available as an over-the-counter supplement in both the UK and the US.

According to a Daily Mail report, the most remarkable finding of the study was that heart damage in diabetic patients was also reversed after being given the drug mitoquinone. This is significant, as heart muscles typically weaken in diabetic patients. Mitoquinone is a synthetic antioxidant that protects cells and is a modified form of CoQ10, an antioxidant naturally found in the body.

Study author and heart specialist at the University of Leeds, Dr. Henry Proctor, called the results encouraging. He added that if the study had been conducted over a longer period, the difference between the mitoquinone and non-mitoquinone groups might have been more apparent in serious indicators of heart health. However, he expressed hope that larger studies will continue on the benefits of this antioxidant, which could one day help diabetic patients prevent heart failure in advance.

Heart Function Rises 15% With New Drug

The results of the study were presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester. Half of the patients included in the study were given 40 mg of mitoquinone daily along with their usual diabetes treatment, while the rest were given only their usual medicines. The heart health of both groups was studied and re-evaluated after four months.

At the end of the trial, the heart function of the group taking mitoquinone was found to be 15 percent higher than at the beginning of the study. The mitoquinone group also showed improvement in exercise tests. Their hearts returned to a relaxed state more easily after exercise.

Researchers said that after taking the medicine, the stress and stiffness in the heart caused by diabetes was reduced. Diabetes damages the heart in such a way that the heart becomes weak in converting energy. Over time, this obstacle increases the stress and damage to the heart muscle cells, due to which the heart muscles become stiff. In this condition, more effort is needed to pump blood throughout the body, which increases the risk of sudden heart failure.

No Side Effects Reported

Mitoquinone helps protect cells from damage. It is already sold online as a health supplement, with a 60-tablet bottle priced around £50—roughly 86 pence per tablet. However, these over-the-counter doses are much lower than those used in the study. Importantly, no side effects were reported in the group taking mitoquinone.

Scientists are now planning a larger trial involving more patients to strengthen their findings. If future studies confirm these results, experts hope mitoquinone could one day be used to protect the hearts of diabetic patients for longer.

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