Vitamin D Supplementation Effects in Patients with Heart Failure

Low vitamin D status may contribute to pathogenesis of congestive heart failure. We evaluated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the left ventricular function and the NYHA Functional class of chronic heart failure patients. This double–blind, randomized, placebo–controlled trial was performed during Oct 2007 until Aug 2008 in Chamran and Noor Hospitals, Isfahan, Iran. One hundred and ten patients randomly received 50’000 IU vitamin D3/w plus 500 mg Ca/d [case group] or placebo plus 500 my Ca/d [control group] for 6 months. Biochemical variables, LVEF and NYHA Functional class status were assessed at baseline and after 6 months. Eighty two patients completed the study. Vitamin D supplementation increased the mean of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D concentration by 33.9 ng/ml (P < 0.001); whereas placebo treatment was associated with an increase of only 6.2 ng/ml (P > 0.05). After 6 months treatment, the case and control groups showed improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction values and also left ventricular end-systolic volume; the extent of changes between two groups has significant difference (P < 0.05). The NYHA class improved in the case group but remained constant in the control group. Vitamin D3 improved left ventricular function and NYHA class in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and might serve as a new agent for the future treatment of the disease.