Effects of six months of vitamin D supplementation in patients with heart failure: a randomized double-blind controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
Low plasma vitamin D levels have been associated with heart failure (HF). This research attempts to explain the role of vitamin D supplementation on myocardial function in elderly patients with HF.


RESULTS
Twenty-three chronic HF patients were randomized in a small parallel group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. All patients, with a mean age of 74 years and vitamin D levels <30 ng/mL, received 800,000 IU (4000 IU/daily) of cholecalciferol or placebo for 6 months. The outcomes measured at baseline and after 6 months were ejection fraction (EF) and other echocardiography parameters, carboxyterminal propeptide of procollagen type I (PIP), natriuretic peptides, lipid profile, renin, parathyroid hormone, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI). In 13 patients under active treatment for 6 months, mean plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentrations (15.51 vs. -1.40 ng/mL, p < 0.001) and plasma calcium (from 9.3 to 9.6 mmol/L, p < 0.05) increased significantly. However, other biomarkers of bone metabolism did not differ between the treatment and placebo groups. EF increased significantly in the intervention group (6.71 vs. -4.3%; p < 0.001), and the serum concentration of PIP increased only in the placebo group after 6 months (1140.98 vs. -145 mcg/L; p < 0.05). Systolic blood pressure was lower after 6 months of cholecalciferol treatment (from 129.6 to 122.7 mm Hg, p < 0.05). No significant variations were observed for other parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Six months of vitamin D supplementation significantly improves EF in elderly patients with HF and vitamin D deficiency.
Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. Electronic address: andrea.dalbeni@ospedaleuniverona.it.
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Dalbeni
Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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Scaturro
Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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Degan
Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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Minuz
Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
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Delva
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002762:Cholecalciferol / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D012083:Renin / Q000097:blood; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000188:drug therapy
D015415:Biomarkers; D024042:Collagen Type I; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D014807:Vitamin D; D002762:Cholecalciferol; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D012083:Renin; D002118:Calcium
Ejection fraction; Heart failure; Vitamin D supplements