People taking statins who supplemented with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) had reduced odds of new-onset diabetes compared to those not on CoQ10, a recent study showed.*

Statins, which are cholesterol-lowering drugs, are associated with a small increased risk of developing diabetes.

The study included about 4,400 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999–2018 who were treated with statins, of whom 3.8% reported using CoQ10.

The odds of developing diabetes were 68% lower among those taking CoQ10 compared to those not taking it. The protective effects of CoQ10 were not dependent on the dose, which was given according to weight.

Editor’s Note: The authors explained that deficiencies of CoQ10 cause cellular alterations that can decrease insulin secretion and sensitivity, which may contribute to the development of new-onset diabetes.

* Rev Cardiovasc Med. 2025 Feb 19;26(2):26437.

Black Cumin Associated with Healthy Inflammatory Response

A review of seven meta-analyses affirmed that adding Nigella sativa (black cumin) seed to the diet is associated with antioxidant effects and a healthy inflammatory response.*

Black cumin is used in some regions to help treat or prevent gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and asthma. The seven meta-analyses included 55 clinical studies that evaluated black cumin’s effects on markers of oxidation and inflammation, which are involved in numerous disease processes.

The pooled results showed that black cumin seed reduced levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a systemic marker of inflammation; tumor necrosis factor-alpha, a cytokine that mediates inflammatory responses; and malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation.

Editor’s Note: Black cumin was also associated with improvements in total antioxidant capacity (measurement of all antioxidants) and levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) which plays a crucial role in the first-line defense against oxidative stress.

*Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 2025 Jan:176:106945.

Magnesium Associated with Lower 28-Day Mortality Risk in Heart Failure Patients

A study found that heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction, where the heart struggles to fill with blood, treated in an intensive care unit, had a significantly lower 28-day risk of all-cause mortality when given magnesium compared to those who did not receive it.*

Researchers compared 985 patients who received magnesium with another 985 who did not. Within 28 days, 20.3% of the group not receiving magnesium died, whereas only 13.6% of the magnesium group died. After adjustment for various confounding factors, magnesium intake was linked to a 32% lower risk of mortality.

Subgroup analysis showed even greater benefits of magnesium, with a lower risk of mortality for certain groups: older patients, 35% lower; women, 45% lower; individuals without diabetes, 46% lower; and patients with high blood pressure, 38% lower.

Editor’s Note: These findings suggest that magnesium could play a significant role in improving survival outcomes for heart failure patients.

* Sci Rep. 2025 Jan 14;15(1):1944.

L-Carnitine and Alpha-Linolenic Acid Help Women with Migraines

A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial that included women who suffered from migraines found that L-carnitine and the plant-derived omega-3 fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) lowered migraine frequency, severity and duration, and enhanced mental health and quality of life compared to a placebo.*

The study included 40 women who received 500 mg L-carnitine plus 1,000 mg ALA and 40 women who received a placebo daily for 12 weeks.

After 12 weeks, participants who received L-carnitine and ALA experienced a significant reduction in migraine frequency of approximately three per month versus almost no reduction in the placebo group. Migraine severity and duration were also significantly reduced, and depression and anxiety scores improved, compared with the placebo.

Editor’s Note: Additionally, migraine-specific quality-of-life and headache-impact scores improved in the group that received L-carnitine and ALA compared with the placebo group.

* Nutr J. 2025 Mar 13;24(1):40.