title: Vitamin D Supplementation in the Treatment of Chronic Heart Failure: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, there has been growing evidence that vitamin D deficiency is associated with the development and progression of chronic heart failure (CHF).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Additional supplementation of vitamin D may have protective effects in patients with CHF.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases through June 2015 and included 7 randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of vitamin D on cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CHF. Then, we performed a meta-analysis of clinical trials to confirm whether vitamin D supplementation is beneficial in CHF patients. The weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our pooled results indicated that additional supplementation of vitamin D was not superior to conventional treatment in terms of left ventricular ejection fraction, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide, and 6-minute walk distance. Moreover, vitamin D supplementation was associated with significant decreases in the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (WMD: -2.42 pg/mL, 95% CI: -4.26 to -0.57, P < 0.05), C-reactive protein (WMD: -0.72 mg/L, 95% CI: -1.42 to -0.02, P < 0.05), and parathyroid hormone (WMD: -13.44 pg/mL, 95% CI: -21.22 to -5.67, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D supplementation may decrease serum levels of parathyroid hormone and inflammatory mediators in CHF patients, whereas it has no beneficial effects on improvement of left ventricular function and exercise tolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiration, Jiangyin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangyin, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Long
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiration, Jiangyin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangyin, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiration, Jiangyin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangyin, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Qing
authors.initials: QQ
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Chang
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012307:Risk Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014808:Vitamin D Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators; C470125:PTH protein, human; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D014807:Vitamin D; D002097:C-Reactive Protein