Effects of Vitamin D supplementation on physical activity of patients with Heart Failure

OBJECTIVE: To see the role of Vitamin D supplementation on physical status of patients suffering from Congestive Heart Failure (dilated cardiomyopathy). METHODS: In this nonrandomized clinical trial, Forty three Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy who were not showing any significant improvements in physical performance on optimal treatment of heart failure were included. Vitamin D (200,000 IU) supplementation on weekly basis for a period of 12 weeks was added to heart failure treatment. And its effect was seen on 6 minutes’ walk distance and Pro-BNP levels. SPSS version 19 was used for data analysis. Dependent sample t-test was used to see the significant effect of vitamin D supplementation on pre- intervention vitamin D levels, 6MWD and Pro-BNP. Taking p-value <0.05 as significant. RESULTS: On clinical assessment most of the patients were in NYHA class II (65%), the percentages of NYHA Class I, III and IV was 19%, 9% and 7% respectively. The baseline mean vitamin D level of the study group was 16.59±3.54ng/ml and it raised to 31.97±3.64ng/ml after 12 weeks of supplementation with vitamin D, p value<0.0005. The mean distance travelled by the study group before the intervention was 806±380ft while it increased to 945±393ft after the intervention, p value of 0.008. The mean of pro-BNP level of the study group before the intervention was 1024±635 while it improved to 159±80 after the intervention with a significant p value<0.0005. CONCLUSION: Vitamin D supplementation decreases the severity of HF as reflected by reduction in serum pro-BNP levels and significant increase in six minutes’ walk distance.