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Effects of Cholecalciferol Supplementation in Patients with stable heart failure and LOw vITamin D levels

Fabrizio Turrini1, Stefania Scarlini2, Paolo Giovanardi2

  • 1Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Nuovo Ospedale Civile Sant'Agostino Estense, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy - f.turrini@ausl.mo.it.

Minerva Cardioangiologica
|June 2, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin D supplementation in heart failure patients improved walking distance and reduced PTH after 3 months. However, overall outcomes did not differ significantly from placebo at 6 months.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Endocrinology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Heart failure (HF) is a complex condition often associated with vitamin D (VD) deficiency.
  • Investigating the impact of VD repletion on functional and hormonal markers in HF patients is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on functional capacity, echocardiographic parameters, and hormonal profiles in patients with heart failure and VD deficiency.

Main Methods:

  • A randomized, double-blind trial involving 35 HF patients with VD levels <20 ng/mL.
  • Participants received either oral cholecalciferol (300,000 U followed by 50,000 U/month for 6 months) or a placebo.

Main Results:

  • The 6-minute walking test (6MWT) showed improvement at 3 months (P=0.033) but not at 6 months in the VD treatment group.
  • Parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels decreased significantly at 3 months (P=0.025) in the treatment group, but not at 6 months.
  • No significant differences in 6MWT variation were observed between the VD-treated and placebo groups at 3 or 6 months. Left atrial size increased in the placebo group.

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin D repletion in HF patients with VD deficiency improved 6MWT and lowered PTH levels after 3 months.
  • Despite short-term functional improvements, vitamin D supplementation did not significantly alter overall outcomes compared to placebo in this HF cohort.
Abstract

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