Rose hip, the fruit of Rosa canina and related species, has been used in traditional medicine for various ailments, but its use for cardiovascular disease (CVD) now also has limited scientific investigation. Rose hips are rich in vitamin C, polyphenols, and other antioxidants, which have been hypothesized to benefit cardiovascular health by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation—factors involved in the development of CVD.

A small number of human clinical studies have explored rose hip supplementation in relation to cardiovascular risk factors. One randomized controlled trial (Winther et al., 2013) found that daily consumption of rose hip powder over six weeks resulted in modest reductions in systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol in overweight individuals, suggesting a potential benefit for cardiovascular risk management. However, the magnitude of these effects was small, and the sample size was limited. Preclinical studies have also indicated potential antihypertensive and lipid-lowering effects, but these findings have not been robustly replicated in larger or longer-term human trials.

Overall, while there is some scientific evidence suggesting that rose hip may have a positive effect on certain cardiovascular risk factors, the evidence is preliminary and not yet strong enough to support its use as a primary or adjunct treatment for cardiovascular disease. Larger, high-quality clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety for this purpose.