Heart health supplements like fish oil, CoQ10 and beetroot are popular, but the Heart Foundation puts food and lifestyle first, and the research on these supplements is mixed. In trials, fish oil lowered blood triglycerides a little, the evidence for CoQ10 is inconclusive, and beetroot nitrate lowered blood pressure readings slightly in small, short studies.
If you have a heart condition, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or you take any medicine for them, talk to your GP before adding any of these. Supplements are not a replacement for anything your doctor has prescribed.
CoQ10, omega-3 and beetroot at a glance
| Omega-3 fish oil | CoQ10 | Beetroot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | EPA and DHA, fats found in oily fish | A compound your body makes, involved in cell energy production | A vegetable rich in dietary nitrate |
| Main research finding | Lowered triglycerides by about 15% in trials, little or no effect on deaths or cardiovascular events (Cochrane) | Inconclusive for heart outcomes, probably no real effect on blood pressure (NCCIH) | Systolic blood pressure about 4.4 mmHg lower in trials lasting 2 hours to 15 days |
| Food first | 2 to 3 serves of fish a week, especially oily fish | Your body makes its own | Beetroot and leafy greens such as rocket and spinach |
| Check with your GP if | You are thinking of taking it at all (Heart Foundation advice) | You take warfarin, insulin or a statin | You take blood pressure medicine |
| Example at Supps247 | NOW Omega-3 1000 mg (200 softgels), $69.95 | Beast Labs CoQ10 200mg (60 caps), $59.95 | Force Factor Total Beets organic powder 450 g, $89.95 |
Prices are at the time of writing.
Start with what the Heart Foundation recommends
The Heart Foundation recommends a heart-healthy eating pattern, with two to three serves of fish each week, especially oily fish like salmon, trout, mackerel and sardines. Canned salmon and sardines are an easy, low-cost way to get there. Add regular exercise, not smoking and regular heart health checks with your GP, and you have covered the basics.
Supplements come after that. They can help fill a gap, for example if you do not eat fish, but they work best as a small part of the bigger picture.
Omega-3 fish oil: what the research says
The largest summary of the evidence is a 2020 Cochrane review of 86 trials with 162,796 people. It found that increasing long-chain omega-3 (EPA and DHA) had little or no effect on deaths from any cause or on cardiovascular events, based on high-certainty evidence. It may slightly reduce coronary heart disease events, though that evidence was low certainty. The clearest effect was on blood fats: omega-3 lowered triglycerides by about 15%.
The Heart Foundation notes that doctors sometimes prescribe omega-3 for high triglycerides, and says it is best to speak to your doctor first if you are considering a fish oil supplement. In short, fish oil is a reasonable choice if you rarely eat fish, but it is not a shortcut to a healthy heart.
If you go ahead, check the EPA and DHA on the label, not just the fish oil amount:
- NOW Omega-3 1000 mg gives 360 mg EPA and 240 mg DHA per two softgel serve. The 200 softgel bottle is $69.95, about $0.70 a day, and a 100 softgel bottle is $39.95. It is one of our best selling fish oils over the last six months.
- Rule 1 Fish Oil Omega-3 gives 180 mg EPA and 120 mg DHA in one softgel a day, at about $0.30 a day from a 100 softgel bottle.
Compare more brands in our best fish oil guide, or read what fish oil is mainly used for.
CoQ10: popular with statin users, but the evidence is mixed
Coenzyme Q10 is made by your body and is involved in normal cellular energy production. Many people on statins (cholesterol-lowering medicines) take it hoping to ease muscle aches. The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) says the overall evidence does not support CoQ10 reducing statin-related muscle pain, although individual studies have varied. It also describes the research on heart outcomes as inconclusive, and says CoQ10 probably does not have a meaningful effect on blood pressure.
No serious side effects have been reported, but mild trouble sleeping or an upset stomach can happen. More importantly, NCCIH notes CoQ10 may interact with the blood thinner warfarin and with insulin. If you take a statin and have muscle aches, tell your GP rather than managing it yourself, and never stop a prescribed medicine without advice.
If your GP is happy for you to try it, Beast Labs CoQ10 200mg gives 200 mg of CoQ10 (as ubiquinone) per capsule, with 60 capsules for $59.95, about $1.00 a day. It is a simple single-ingredient capsule, which makes it easy to tell your doctor exactly what you are taking.
Beetroot: nitrate and blood pressure
Beetroot and leafy greens are high in dietary nitrate, which the body can turn into nitric oxide, a molecule that helps blood vessels relax. A 2013 meta-analysis by Siervo and colleagues pooled 16 trials with 254 people and found nitrate or beetroot juice lowered systolic blood pressure by about 4.4 mmHg on average. The change in diastolic pressure was small and not statistically clear. The trials were short, from 2 hours to 15 days, so we do not know much about long-term effects.
The easiest way to get nitrate is to eat it: beetroot, rocket, spinach and other leafy greens. If you prefer a powder, Force Factor Total Beets organic powder is 100% organic beetroot powder, with 90 serves of 5 g for $89.95, about $1.00 a serve. Like most beet powders, the label does not state the nitrate content, so it is hard to match the amounts used in studies.
If you have high blood pressure, beetroot is not a substitute for your medicine. Keep taking what your GP prescribed and ask before adding supplements.
Which heart health supplement should you choose?
- You rarely eat fish: a fish oil such as NOW Omega-3 1000 mg is the most sensible add-on, after checking with your doctor.
- You take a statin and have muscle aches: see your GP first. CoQ10 is optional and the evidence is weak.
- You like the idea of beetroot: eat more beetroot and leafy greens. A powder is a convenient extra, not a must.
- You already eat fish twice a week and stay active: you may not need any of these.
Our pick for most people is food first, with fish oil for anyone who does not eat fish. Browse all fish oils. Online orders ship Australia-wide with free shipping on orders of $99.99 or more, and click and collect and Afterpay are available.
How our price compares
Here is what the same products cost at other Australian supplement stores, so you can check the difference yourself.
| Product | Supps247 | Nutrition Warehouse | ASN | Elite Supps | Supplement Mart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rule 1 Fish Oil Omega-3 100 softgels | $29.95 | $25.46 (sale) | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| NOW Omega-3 1000 mg 200 softgels | $69.95 | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
Supps247 prices come from our website. Other prices were checked on the websites of Nutrition Warehouse, Australian Sports Nutrition (ASN), Elite Supps and Supplement Mart on 29 October 2026 (same product and size, price for one unit) and can change at any time. Sale means it was on sale that day. Not listed means we could not find that exact product on their site. Supps247 members can use our Price Match Guarantee against Nutrition Warehouse, ASN, Elite Supps and Supplement Mart: we beat their full price by 5% or match their sale price (conditions apply).
Shop the products in this guide
NOW Omega-3 1000 mg 200 softgels$69.95
Rule 1 Fish Oil Omega-3$29.95
Beast Labs CoQ10 200mg$59.95
Force Factor Total Beets 450 g$89.95
Browse all fish oils.
FAQs
Is fish oil good for your heart?
The evidence is mixed. A 2020 Cochrane review of 86 trials found that increasing omega-3 had little or no effect on deaths or cardiovascular events, but it did lower triglycerides by about 15%. The Heart Foundation recommends two to three serves of fish a week and suggests speaking to your doctor before taking a fish oil supplement. Fish oil is most useful if you rarely eat fish.
Should I take CoQ10 if I am on a statin?
Talk to your GP first. Many people try CoQ10 for statin-related muscle aches, but NCCIH says the overall evidence does not support it reducing that muscle pain, although individual studies have varied. CoQ10 may also interact with warfarin and insulin. If you have muscle aches on a statin, your GP may want to check them, and you should never stop a prescribed medicine without advice.
What do studies say about beetroot and blood pressure?
Small studies suggest a modest short-term effect. A 2013 meta-analysis of 16 trials with 254 people found nitrate or beetroot juice lowered systolic blood pressure by about 4.4 mmHg on average, but the trials only lasted from 2 hours to 15 days. Beetroot is a healthy food to include, but it is not a substitute for blood pressure medicine. If your blood pressure is high, follow your GP's advice.
Is CoQ10 safe to take?
NCCIH reports that no serious side effects of CoQ10 have been reported, though mild side effects like trouble sleeping or an upset stomach can occur. It may interact with the blood thinner warfarin and with insulin, and NCCIH says it may not suit some cancer treatments, so check with your GP or pharmacist if you take any of these, or if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a medical condition. Stick to the dose on the label.
Which fish are highest in omega-3?
The Heart Foundation highlights oily fish such as salmon, trout, mackerel and sardines, and recommends two to three serves of fish a week as part of a heart-healthy eating pattern. Canned salmon and sardines are budget-friendly options. If you do not eat fish at all, a fish oil supplement can provide EPA and DHA, so check those amounts on the label rather than the total fish oil.
Sources: Heart Foundation: deep dive into fish and seafood; Cochrane review: omega-3 intake and cardiovascular disease (2020); NCCIH: coenzyme Q10; Siervo et al. Inorganic nitrate and beetroot juice and blood pressure, meta-analysis (2013); product labels and brand nutrition panels, checked October 2026.
Order online with Australia-wide delivery, free on orders of $99.99 or more, with Afterpay available at checkout. You can also use click and collect at a store that offers it, or visit a Supps247 store in Melbourne, regional Victoria or Brisbane to compare products in person. Members can use our member price match on full-priced items.
Prices and stock were checked on 29 October 2026 and can change at any time. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or take regular medication, check with your doctor first.
