Heart Health at a Cellular Level: What Filipinos Miss About the Mitochondria

Cardiovascular disease has become one of the Asia’s most pressing health challenges. A study revealed that this region accounted for 61.3% of global cardiovascular mortality, and a disease burden that exceeds the global average by 8.3%. In the Philippines, ischaemic heart diseases remain the top cause of death with 100,958 cases, taking up 19.8 percent of total deaths in the country in 2025 . Despite the fall in cardiovascular disease death rates over time, the overall burden continues to grow, driven by ageing populations and changing lifestyles.

According to Dr. Vipada Sae-Lao, Herbalife’s Nutrition Education and Training Lead for Asia Pacific, “A healthy heart needs the basics. The American Heart Association’s evidence-backed framework identifies eight pillars of cardiovascular health: a heart-healthy diet, regular physical activity, avoiding nicotine, quality sleep, maintaining a healthy weight, and keeping blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure within safe ranges.”

Research shows that as the body ages, blood vessels undergo progressive changes- a process known as vascular ageing, that can affect cardiovascular health over time. At the cellular level, mitochondria are increasingly recognised as a key driver of this process, and a decline in their function is one of the reasons why the health of the blood vessels can deteriorate over time.

Think of mitochondria as tiny power stations inside every cell in the body whose job is to convert food into usable energy. “The heart is one of the most energy-intensive organs in the body for its size, and this energy comes from mitochondria. When mitochondria are working well, the heart can contract, relax, and respond to the body’s physical demands with ease,” added Dr. Sae-Lao. 

Good cardiovascular health begins at the cellular level, inside the mitochondria. It is useful to understand nutrients, whether from food or targeted supplementation, which can help the heart at a cellular level.

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA)

ALA is one of the body’s defenders of cellular health, working inside the mitochondria to protect DNA from damage and guard the cardiovascular system from cellular wear and tear. While antioxidants like Vitamin C work best in the body’s water-based environments and Vitamin E is better suited to areas of fat, ALA has the unique capability to work in both. This compound also helps recycle Vitamins C and E to amplify their protection. 

While spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, brussels sprouts, and organ meats like liver and kidney contain ALA, research suggests that dietary absorption is unlikely to deliver meaningful amounts into the bloodstream. This makes supplementation an option worth exploring with your healthcare provider.

Nitric Oxide (NO)

Nitric oxide works for your heart in several ways — it helps blood vessels relax and widen for smoother blood flow, discourages unwanted clot formation in arteries, supports anti-inflammatory action in arteries to maintain a healthy arterial lining without cholesterol plaque buildup. Research also suggests NO supports the body in building new energy-producing mitochondria.  NO levels naturally decline with age, and when compounded by poor nutrition or a sedentary lifestyle, this reduction can compromise cardiovascular health over time. Physical activity is one of the simplest ways to boost the body’s NO production. 

Dietary nitrates found in spinach, beets and brussels sprouts convert directly to NO by the body. Citrus fruits and pomegranate help preserve NO once it is produced, while food sources like fish and nuts supply arginine, are the building blocks for NO and supply omega-3 healthy fat which support NO production.

Creatine 

Creatine works inside heart muscle as an energy buffer, ensuring adenosine triphosphate (ATP) i.e., the fuel that every heart cell depends on, continues to be in steady supply with every beat. Studies suggest that creatine supports the mitochondria’s ability to work more efficiently, potentially reducing cellular damage that accumulates over time. Creatine supplementation may also support cardiovascular health by helping to manage blood pressure responses and reducing inflammatory markers. Creatine is found in red meat and fish, but diet may not be sufficient to fully support the heart’s energy systems, particularly when creatine production declines with age.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

CoQ10 is at its highest concentration within the heart and vital in converting food into the energy the heart needs. This antioxidant found in meats, fish, nuts and vegetable oils, helps protect heart cells from everyday cellular wear and tear while supporting blood vessel function. Produced in the body, CoQ10 levels naturally decline with age. 

Balanced diet, exercise routines, quality sleep, and regular health checks are important for good cardiovascular health. And Filipinos are a step closer towards having a healthy heart with 75% more focused on trying to increase the frequency or intensity of physical activity while 72% for sleep quality.

ALA, NO, creatine and CoQ10 further support the energy systems your heart depends on. 

“The good news is most of what your heart needs at a cellular level can be built into daily meals. And where food falls short, a conversation with your healthcare provider about targeted supplementation can help close the gap,” said Dr. Sae-Lao.