title: Efficacy and safety of berberine for congestive heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of berberine for chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). One hundred fifty-six patients with CHF and >90 ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) and/or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) on 24-hour Holter monitoring were randomly divided into 2 groups. All patients were given conventional therapy for CHF, consisting of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, digoxin, diuretics, and nitrates. Patients in the treatment group (n = 79) were also given berberine 1.2 to 2.0 g/day. The remaining 77 patients were given placebo. Symptoms, a 6-minute walk test, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), frequency and complexity of VPCs, and quality of life were assessed after 8 weeks of treatment and during a mean 24-month follow-up. After treatment with berberine, there was a significantly greater increase in LVEF, exercise capacity, improvement of the dyspnea-fatigue index, and a decrease of frequency and complexity of VPCs compared with the control group. There was a significant decrease in mortality in the berberine-treated patients during long-term follow-up (7 patients receiving treatment died vs 13 on placebo, p <0.02). Proarrhythmia was not observed, and there were no apparent side effects. Thus, berberine improved quality of life and decreased VPCs and mortality in patients with CHF.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Chengdu Second Municipal Hospital, Chengdu 610 017, China. xianghong_zeng@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Xiang-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Xiang-Ji
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yun-Yun
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001599:Berberine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D001599:Berberine