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Vitamins in Heart Failure: Friend or Enemy?
George Georgiopoulos1, Christina Chrysohoou1, Georgia Vogiatzi2
1First Department of Cardiology, 'Hippokration' Hospital, 114, Vas.Sofias Street, PC 11528, Athens. Greece.
Current Pharmaceutical Design
|March 23, 2017
Summary
Vitamins supplementation in chronic heart failure (HF) patients shows limited evidence of survival benefits. Further large-scale trials are needed to confirm potential benefits for myocardial metabolism and homeostasis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nutritional Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Chronic heart failure (HF) involves depleted metabolic energy and molecular changes like hypertrophy and fibrosis.
- Vitamins supplementation may potentially improve energy balance in failing hearts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate existing data on vitamin supplementation in chronic HF patients.
- To assess potential benefits on metabolic, inotropic, chronotropic, and hemodynamic indices.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of MEDLINE via PubMed.
- Keywords included "chronic heart failure", "cardiomyopathy", and various vitamin names.
- Included vitamins A, B complex, C, D, E, and others.
Main Results:
- Data on vitamin supplementation in HF is sparse and often inconclusive.
- Study heterogeneity, patient morbidity, and small sample sizes obscure cardiovascular outcomes.
- Most trials did not show survival benefits; indirect evidence comes from deficiency correction.
Conclusions:
- Vitamins and micronutrients show promise for myocardial metabolism in HF.
- Larger randomized clinical trials are necessary to confirm supplementation benefits in this high-risk population.
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