Key result
Integrative cardiac rehabilitation linked to ~48-meter gain in 6-minute walk distance over exercise alone.
Why the study?
Organized cardiac rehabilitation is crucial to improve functional and metabolic outcomes in cardiovascular disease, but the comparative effects of exercise alone versus exercise combined with medicinal plant supplementation are unclear.
Does exercise therapy combined with standardized medicinal plant supplementation improve functional capacity, cardiac performance, and metabolic parameters in patients with cardiovascular disease?
Cohort (n=290)
No
Does exercise therapy combined with standardized medicinal plant supplementation improve functional capacity, cardiac performance, and metabolic parameters in patients with cardiovascular disease?
Integrative cardiac rehabilitation with standardized medicinal plant supplementation improved functional capacity, cardiometabolic profile, and reduced hospital readmissions significantly more than exercise therapy alone.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Should not yet change cardiac rehabilitation practice; leaves open need for randomized trials to confirm benefits of adjunctive herbal extracts.
Background: Cardiovascular diseases are still a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world and organized cardiac rehabilitation is crucial to enhance functional and metabolic outcomes. Objective: To compare the effects of exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation alone versus exercise therapy combined with standardized medicinal plant supplementation on cardiovascular outcomes. Methodology: The study was carried out as a prospective observational cohort study for a period of 24 months (January 2024–December 2025). Thirty-three patients were registered, and 290 were followed up. Participants were divided into two groups: exercise group and integrative rehabilitation group (exercise therapy plus garlic, ginger and green tea extracts). Functional, cardiac, metabolic and quality-of-life outcomes were assessed at baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Data were analyzed by t-tests, repeated measures ANOVA and multivariable regression. Results: At 12 months, the integrative group showed greater improvement in 6MWD (412.76 ± 70.15 m vs. 362.18 ± 68.42 m), METs (7.41 ± 1.12 vs. 6.12 ± 1.08), and LVEF (49.87 ± 6.42% vs. 45.32 ± 6.51%). LDL was lower (102.35 ± 21.88 mg/dL vs. 118.62 ± 22.41 mg/dL), HDL was higher (47.64 ± 8.45 mg/dL vs. 41.28 ± 8.12 mg/dL), and readmission rates were reduced (12.41% vs. 23.45%). Conclusion: Integrative cardiac rehabilitation demonstrates superior functional, metabolic, and clinical outcomes compared to exercise therapy alone.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Khan et al. (2026) conducted a cohort in Cardiovascular Disease (n=290). Integrative cardiac rehabilitation (exercise therapy plus standardized garlic, ginger, and green tea extracts) vs. Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation alone was evaluated on Improvement in 6-minute walk distance at 12 months (meters) (MD 47.91, p=<0.001). Integrative cardiac rehabilitation combining exercise therapy with medicinal plant supplementation significantly improved 6-minute walk distance by a mean difference of 47.91 meters compared to exercise therapy alone.