Valsartan
Prescription ·Exploratory record · not publication-reviewed ·Updated July 13, 2026
Valsartan is an ARB with evidence from the Val-HeFT and VALIANT trials for heart failure and post-MI management. It is also a key component of the combination drug sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto), which has revolutionized heart failure treatment.
Exploratory record, not a reviewed medical publication.
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This generated database record has not completed a claim-level review by a qualified human medical reviewer. Bibliography links and evidence labels are not approval. The page remains available for reference and is excluded from search indexing.
What the research says.
A quick, data-only summary. The full evidence, dosing, and sources are below.
Valsartan is an ARB with evidence from the Val-HeFT and VALIANT trials for heart failure and post-MI management. NutriStack rates the supporting evidence as strong. Common adult dosing is 40–320 mg once daily (as prescribed by your physician), though a prescriber sets the actual dose. With long-term use it can deplete zinc. This profile indexes 10 sources.
The bottom line
Evidence rating strong. Most-documented uses: effective blood pressure reduction, reduces hospitalizations in heart failure (val-heft), non-inferior to captopril post-mi (valiant). 10 sources indexed (2010–2024), with 0 interaction records on file.
How it works, mechanistically.
Core mechanism
Selectively blocks the AT1 receptor, preventing the vasoconstrictive, aldosterone-releasing, and growth-promoting effects of angiotensin II. Does not inhibit ACE or affect bradykinin, resulting in better tolerability regarding cough. Reduces preload, afterload, and cardiac remodeling in heart failure.6
Dosing & protocol.
Can be taken with or without food; food reduces Cmax by ~40% and AUC by ~50%, but clinical significance is minimal at steady state
What it depletes.
Nutrients this medication can lower over time, and what to replace.
Zinc
MildARB therapy can modestly increase urinary zinc losses in some users, though typically less than ACE inhibitors.
Full safety detail.
Sources, by evidence tier.
Numbered references. Citations throughout the page link here.
Meta-analyses & systematic reviews
4- 1Salvianolate injection for hypertensive nephropathy patients who were using valsartan: A systematic review and meta-analysisPMIDXu Q, Shen Y, Zhao J et al. · Frontiers in pharmacology · 2023
Xu Q, Shen Y, Zhao J et al.. Salvianolate injection for hypertensive nephropathy patients who were using valsartan: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in pharmacology. 2023
- 2A meta-analysis of randomized trials of telmisartan vs. valsartan therapy for blood pressure reductionPMIDTakagi H, Niwa M, Mizuno Y et al. · Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension · 2013
Takagi H, Niwa M, Mizuno Y et al.. A meta-analysis of randomized trials of telmisartan vs. valsartan therapy for blood pressure reduction. Hypertension research : official journal of the Japanese Society of Hypertension. 2013
- 3Meta-analysis of three observational studies of amlodipine/valsartan in hypertensive patients with additional risk factorsPMIDEckert S, Freytag SB, Müller A et al. · Blood pressure · 2013
Eckert S, Freytag SB, Müller A et al.. Meta-analysis of three observational studies of amlodipine/valsartan in hypertensive patients with additional risk factors. Blood pressure. 2013
- 4A systematic review and meta-analysis of telmisartan versus valsartan in the management of essential hypertensionPMIDZheng Z, Lin S, Shi H · Journal of clinical hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.) · 2010
Zheng Z, Lin S, Shi H. A systematic review and meta-analysis of telmisartan versus valsartan in the management of essential hypertension. Journal of clinical hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.). 2010
Randomized controlled trials
1- 5Efficacy and safety of Qingda granule versus valsartan capsule in Chinese grade 1 hypertensive patients with low-moderate risk: A randomized, double-blind, double dummy, non-inferiority, multi-center trialPMIDQu H, Shen AL, Yang K et al. · Pharmacological research · 2024
Qu H, Shen AL, Yang K et al.. Efficacy and safety of Qingda granule versus valsartan capsule in Chinese grade 1 hypertensive patients with low-moderate risk: A randomized, double-blind, double dummy, non-inferiority, multi-center trial. Pharmacological research. 2024
Reference material
5- 6Cohn JN and Tognoni G. A randomized trial of the angiotensin-receptor blocker valsartan in chronic heart failure (Val-HeFT). N Engl J Med. 2001.Source linkedPMID
- 7Pfeffer MA et al. Valsartan, captopril, or both in myocardial infarction complicated by heart failure, left ventricular dysfunction, or both (VALIANT). N Engl J Med. 2003.Source linkedPMID
- 8Wu J et al. Antihypertensive drugs for hyperuricemia in patients with hypertension: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of Chinese trials. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2025.Source linkedPMID
- 9Zhou W, Yang X, Jin J et al.. The efficacy and safety of sacubitril/valsartan in chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International urology and nephrology. 2024Source linkedPMID
- 10Kang H, Zhang J, Zhang X et al.. Effects of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with heart failure and chronic kidney disease: A meta-analysis. European journal of pharmacology. 2020Source linkedPMID
Common questions.
Quick answers about Valsartan, drawn from the data on this page.
What is Valsartan?
Valsartan is an ARB with evidence from the Val-HeFT and VALIANT trials for heart failure and post-MI management. It is also a key component of the combination drug sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto), which has revolutionized heart failure treatment.
What is Valsartan used for?
Commonly cited benefits of Valsartan include: Effective blood pressure reduction; Reduces hospitalizations in heart failure (Val-HeFT); Non-inferior to captopril post-MI (VALIANT); Well-tolerated alternative for ACE inhibitor-intolerant patients. NutriStack rates the overall evidence as strong.
What is a typical dose of Valsartan?
A typical adult dose of Valsartan is 40–320 mg once daily (as prescribed by your physician). The commonly recommended form is Oral tablet or capsule. These are general ranges, not personalized advice; confirm the right dose with a clinician.
What are the side effects of Valsartan?
Reported side effects include dizziness, hyperkalemia, hypotension, headache, fatigue, diarrhea. This is educational information; check with a healthcare professional before use.
How strong is the evidence for Valsartan?
NutriStack rates this as Strong, meaning multiple high-quality meta-analyses or systematic reviews converge on the same finding. Full tier criteria are at https://nutristackapp.com/methodology/evidence-tiers.
Use this with your stack
Valsartan in NutriStack.
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