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CVD claims more lives than all forms of cancer combined. In the United States, an estimated 610,000 Americans die annually from CVD, and an estimated 85.6 million are living with some form of the disease. 1,2 Additionally, the AHA reports that someone in the United States dies of CVD almost every 90 seconds. 1 Around the world, health care profes- sionals are continuously making patients aware of the significance of preserving cardiovascular health and are encourag- ing patients to take a proactive role in assessing their individual risks for CVD. Patients should be educated about the modifiable risk factors (ie, history of hypertension, smoking, obesity, diabe- tes, and hyperlipidemia) and nonmodifi- able cardiovascular risk factors (ie, age, gender, ethnicity, and genetics/familial history of CVD). Patients should also be encouraged to discuss these risk factors with their primary health care provid- ers (PHCPs). 3 The results of a recent study show that preventable risk factors still account for an estimated 50% of deaths related to CVD among adults aged 45 to 79 years. 4,5 In addition, vari- ous health organizations have launched patient education programs to promote the benefits of maintaining cardiovas- cular health because CVD is the leading cause of death among men and women in the United States and the number of individuals given a diagnosis of CVD continues to escalate annually. Pharmacists are likely to encounter patients seeking advice on the various nutritional supplements formulated to promote cardiovascular health (Online Table). They are in a pivotal position to guide patients on the proper selection and use of these nutritional supplements and to provide patients with key infor- mation for improving or maintaining cardiovascular health. Although many health experts agree that obtaining essential nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, and trace ele- ments via dietary means is optimal, meeting nutritional needs via diet alone is not always feasible for many individu- als. Therefore, a plethora of nutritional supplements are marketed for promot- ing cardiovascular health and protecting against CVD. These supplements are available as single-entity or combination products in a variety of dosage forms, including tablets, capsules, liquid, and gummies. Some foods are even fortified with omega-3 fatty acids and plant ste- rols. In recent years, many manufactur- ers of multivitamin/mineral supplements have marketed formulations with blends of essential nutrients targeted for car- diovascular health. The most common ingredients marketed for promoting car- diovascular health include omega-3 fatty acids, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), garlic, red yeast rice, and resveratrol. 4 Omega-3 Fatty Acids Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have an important role in heart and brain function and in normal growth and development. 6-8 PUFAs are essential fats the body needs but cannot produce, so they must be acquired via dietary means or supplements. 6-8 The consump- tion of omega-3 fatty acids through dietary means is optimal; however, many OTC FOCUS A PHARMACIST'S GUIDE TO OTC THERAPY Ms. Terrie is a clinical pharmacy writer based in Haymarket, Virginia. Supplements for Cardiovascular Health: Navigating Crowded Shelves A ccording to the American Heart Association (AHA), cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading global cause of death among men and women, annually accounting for an esti- mated 17.3 million deaths world- wide; that number is projected to increase to more than 23.6 mil- lion by 2030. 1 22 PharmacyTimes.com December 2015 Yvette C. Terrie, BSPharm, RPh