A 33-Year-Old Man Arrives at the Clinic for Normal Health

A 33-year-old man arrives at the clinic for normal health maintenance. The patient expresses concern about his health after his father suffered a myocardial infarction a few months earlier at the age of 61. He has been eating well and exercising three to four times a week. The patient's medical history is irrelevant, and he or she is not taking any drugs. His aunt is a herbalist, and she recently gave him a supplement that is said to help prevent cardiovascular disease. The patient inquires whether it is safe to begin taking the supplement and produces a list of the contents, which includes plants unknown to the doctor. Which of the following responses is the most appropriate?

A) "I suggest not starting the supplement because you're already taking steps to maintain cardiovascular health by eating healthy and exercising."
B) "I'll need to read more about this combination of herbs, so I'll do some research and let you know what I find."
C) "I'm not familiar with these herbs, but studies have shown that herbs don't have significant effects on preventing cardiovascular disease."
D) "This supplement probably won't prevent cardiovascular disease, but it's likely safe for you to take if you want to."
E) "Unfortunately, I don't know enough information about these herbs, so I can't make a recommendation."