Micronutrients in chronic heart failure

Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2013 Mar;10(1):46-53. doi: 10.1007/s11897-012-0118-4.

Abstract

Heart failure (HF)-associated mortality remains high, despite guideline-recommended medical therapies. Poor nutritional status and unintentional cachexia have been shown to have a strong association with worse survival in HF patients. Importantly, micronutrient deficiencies are potential contributing factors to the progression of HF. This review aims to summarize contemporary evidence on the role of micronutrients in the pathophysiology and outcome of HF patients. Emphasis will be given to the most well-studied micronutrients, specifically, vitamin D, vitamin B complex, coenzyme Q10 and L-carnitine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carnitine / therapeutic use
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Micronutrients / physiology*
  • Micronutrients / therapeutic use*
  • Ubiquinone / analogs & derivatives
  • Ubiquinone / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin B Complex / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Micronutrients
  • Vitamin B Complex
  • Ubiquinone
  • Vitamin D
  • coenzyme Q10
  • Carnitine