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High-dose vitamin D failed to improve physical performance in HF patients
Results from a 6-month trial of patients with HF assigned high-dose vitamin D and calcium found that the vitamin did not improve physical performance.
“This finding is noteworthy because those in the vitamin D group increased 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels by an average of 45% with appropriate decreases in parathyroid hormone,” Rebecca S. Boxer, MD,MS, of the department of medicine at Case Western Reserve University, and researchers wrote.
Rebecca S. Boxer
In the parallel-design, double blind, randomized controlled trial, researchers studied 64 patients (mean age, 65.9 years; 48% women; 64% black) assigned vitamin D3 50,000 IU or placebo weekly and calcium daily. Additionally, patient mean ejection fraction was 37.6 ± 13.9%, 36% were NYHA Class III and the remainder were in NYHA Class II. Primary outcome was peak oxygen uptake; secondary outcomes included 6-minute walk distance, timed get up and go, or knee isokinetic muscle strength.
At baseline, the vitamin D group’s mean 25-(OH)D level was 19.1 ± 9.3 ng/mL and increased to 61.7 ± 20.3 ng/mL, whereas the placebo group’s mean baseline 25-(OH)D level was 17.8 ± 9 ng/mL and decreased to 17.4 ± 9.8 ng/mL at 6 months (between groups P<.001). Researchers found no significant change in secondary outcomes from baseline to 6 months.
“The findings of this study do not support the use of vitamin D and calcium to improve functional performance in older adults with HF,” researchers wrote. “A trial of exercise combined with vitamin D as the intervention may have the greatest chance to demonstrate benefit from vitamin D for patients with HF.”
Disclosure: Boxer reports receiving funding from the NIH and the American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant and the Joan C. Edwards Fund.