A double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the European Heart Journal (2005; 26[21]:2238–2244) examined the effects of nutritional supplementation in elderly patients with chronic heart failure.
Thirty patients with heart failure due to left ventricular dysfunction (average age 75) were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo or a multivitamin/mineral supplement for nine months. The supplement contained calcium, copper, zinc, magnesium, selenium, vitamins A, C, D, and E, coenzyme Q10, folic acid, and vitamins B1, B2, B6, and B12.
Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular (LV) volume were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Participants also completed a six-minute walk test and quality-of-life questionnaires.
Patients receiving the nutrient supplement showed improvements in LV volume and LVEF, along with improved quality-of-life scores. The placebo group experienced no such improvements. Neither group demonstrated significant improvement in the six-minute walk test.
The authors concluded that long-term supplementation may improve left ventricular function and quality of life in elderly patients with chronic heart failure.
