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Calcium and vitamin D status in heart failure patients in Isfahan, Iran

Mohammad Garakyaraghi1, Maryam Kerdegari, Mansour Siavash

  • 1Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Isfahan, Iran.

Biological Trace Element Research
|August 20, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Heart failure patients often have low vitamin D levels. Hyperparathyroidism in these patients is linked to poorer cardiac function, suggesting vitamin D may aid treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Calcium and vitamin D are crucial for heart muscle function.
  • Heart failure is associated with various metabolic disturbances.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess serum calcium, vitamin D (25(OH)D3), and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels.
  • To investigate the correlation of these levels with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and NYHA functional class.
  • To determine the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D and hyperparathyroidism in heart failure patients.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 95 heart failure patients.
  • Serum levels of calcium, 25(OH)D3, and PTH measured using colorimetric, immunoradiometric, and Immunochemiluminescent assays.
  • Echocardiography and interviews used to assess LVEF and NYHA functional class.

Main Results:

  • 84.2% of patients exhibited low vitamin D status (hypovitaminosis D).
  • No significant correlation found between serum calcium or 25(OH)D3 and LVEF.
  • Patients with hyperparathyroidism (PTH > 65 ng/L) showed significantly lower LVEF (27% vs. 32.5%, p=0.03) and a trend towards worse NYHA functional class (p=0.08).

Conclusions:

  • Hypovitaminosis D is highly prevalent in heart failure patients.
  • Hyperparathyroidism may negatively impact cardiac function in heart failure.
  • Vitamin D supplementation could be a potential adjunctive therapy for heart failure.

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