title: Effects of thiamine on cardiac function in patients with systolic heart failure: systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thiamine is an important micronutrient, and thiamine deficiency is prevalent in patients with congestive heart failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, and Excepta Medica (Embase), we conducted a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of thiamine supplementation in patients with congestive heart failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with placebo (2 trials, n=38), thiamine supplementation resulted in a significantly improved net change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (3.28%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.64%, 5.93%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared against placebo, thiamine supplementation in 2 randomized, double-blind trials resulted in a significant improvement in net change in LVEF. While further trials are required to establish thiamine's role in patients with systolic heart failure, thiamine may help to improve LVEF in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Wegmans Pharmacy, Ithaca, NY and Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Dinicolantonio
authors.affiliation: John Ochsner Heart and Vascular Institute, The University of Queensland School of Medicine, Ochsner Clinical School, New Orleans, LA, and Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA.
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lavie
authors.affiliation: Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Asfandyar K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Niazi
authors.affiliation: Mid America Heart Institute at Saint Luke's Hospital, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO.
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: O'Keefe
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hu
keywords: Heart failure; stroke volume; thiamine deficiency