Efficacy of Vitamin D on Chronic Heart Failure Among Adults.

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency commonly occurs in chronic heart failure. Whether additional vitamin D supplementation can be beneficial to adults with chronic heart failure remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched on September 8, 2016. Seven randomized controlled trials that investigated the effects of vitamin D on cardiovascular outcomes in adults with chronic heart failure, and comprised 592 patients, were included in the analysis. Compared to placebo, vitamin D, at doses ranging from 2,000IU/day to 50,000IU/week, could not improve left ventricular ejection fraction (Weighted mean difference, WMD=3.31, 95% confidence interval, CL=-0.93 to 7.55, P<0.001, I2=92.1%); it also exerts no beneficial effects on the 6 minute walk distance (WMD=18.84, 95% CL=-24.85 to 62.52, P=0.276, I2=22.4%) and natriuretic peptide (Standardized mean difference, SMD=-0.39, 95% confidence interval CL=-0.48 to 0.69, P<0.001, I2=92.4%). However, a dose-response analysis from two studies demonstrated an improved left ventricular ejection fraction with vitamin D at a dose of 4,000IU/day (WMD=6.58, 95% confidence interval CL=-4.04 to 9.13, P=0.134, I2=55.4%). The results showed that high dose vitamin D treatment could potentially benefit adults with chronic heart failure, but more randomized controlled trials are required to confirm this result.