Fahimeh Hosseinzadeh - M.Sc in Nutrition, Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Nader Jangi Oskouei - Internist, Cardiologist, Urmia Medical University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
Saeid Ghavamzadeh - PhD, Associate Professor of Nutrition, Department of Nutrition, Food and Beverages Safety Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in heart failure (HF) and the anti-inflammatory impacts of vitamin D may affect the pathogenesis of HF. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on echocardiographic and biochemical factors in vitamin D-deficient HF patients.Methods: To this end, 39 HF patients with 25(OH) D ≤20 ng/mL participated in the current double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial, who belonged to class III, New York Heart Association classification. About 50 000 IU vitamin D3 (group D+) or placebo (group D-) were prescribed within 2 months. Then, the ejection fraction (EF %), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were assessed before and after supplementation.Results: The mean serum level of 25(OH) D increased markedly in D+ group (P< 0.001). The mean increase of EF% was 5.3±9.03% (P= 0.03) and the decrease of TNF-α (-0.09 pg/mL, P< 0.001) and BNP (-3.14 ng/mL, P= 0.04) were statistically significant in D+ group after supplementation. In addition, the blood concentration of BNP declined significantly in D+ group compared to placebo while hs-CRP and TNF-α levels failed to differ between the two groups.Conclusions: The results revealed that vitamin D could be effective against inflammation and thus its supplementation may reduce the severity of HF by improving the serum level of BNP and EF%. However, more clinical trials are required to approve the beneficial role of vitamin D in HF patients.

Vitamin D, Heart failure, Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, Natriuretic peptide, Brain