Thiamine supplementation in symptomatic chronic heart failure: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot study

Schoenenberger, Andreas W
Schoenenberger-Berzins, Renate
Maur, Christoph Auf
Suter, Paolo M
Vergopoulos, Athanasios
Erne, Paul

Open PDF

Open link

Publication date

January 2012

DOI

10.1007/s00392-011-0376-2

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diuretic treatment for heart failure may lead to an increased urinary thiamine excretion and in long-term thiamine deficiency, which may further compromise cardiac function. This study evaluated the effect of high dose thiamine supplementation in heart failure patients. METHODS: Nine patients with diuretic treatment for symptomatic chronic heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40% were randomly assigned to receive thiamine (300 mg/day) or placebo for 28 days. After a wash-out of 6 weeks, the patients crossed-over to a second treatment period. The primary outcome was a change in LVEF. RESULTS: Mean age was 56.7 ± 9.2 years (range 44.9-75.4 years). Baseline LVEF was similar for both treatment groups (29....