Originally published January 16 2006
Study indicates heart failure patients should take micronutrients
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Dr. Klaus Witte, of the Castle Hill Hospital in Hull, UK, has published research in the European Heart Journal that claims micronutrients can improve the heart function and quality of life for patients who have suffered heart failure.
"Our study is unique because it is the first to look at patients with heart failure with a combination of micronutrients.
Heart failure arises when the heart muscle becomes so weak that it can no longer pump blood around the body, and currently afflicts about 14 million people in Europe.
The researchers enrolled 30 elderly patients with stable heart failure who were randomised to receive micronutrient capsules or a placebo.
The capsules contained a high-dose combination of multivitamins along with zinc, copper, selenium, calcium, magnesium and coenzyme-Q10.
The doses of vitamins were in excess of the RDI, but never greater than the upper safe limit for total daily intake.
After an average 295 days the patients given the micronutrients displayed a 5 per cent improvement in heart function and a 10 per cent improvement in quality of life (QoL) scores, report the scientists in the European Heart Journal (vol 26, no 21, pp 2238-2244).
Patients with CHF can have poorer diets for numerous reasons not least because they are less able to go out and buy food regularly, suggested the researchers.
"They may also use their antioxidant and other vitamins stores more rapidly than healthy individuals as the body copes with the heart failure," said Witte.
The Study on Heart failure Awareness and Perception in Europe (SHAPE) reported that 40 per cent of people with CHF would die within one year of their first hospitalisation, and 67 per cent of patients would prefer to improve their QoL than live longer.
The authors acknowledged the limitations of the study, both in the size of the sample population and the length of time of the follow-up period, and admitted significant further research is required.
Dr Witte also stressed that micronutrient supplements were unlikely to benefit healthy people with a healthy diet.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml