Vitamin D Supplementation in Chronic Stable Heart Failure

In cross-sectional and prospective cohort studies, vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased mortality, cardiovascular events including sudden cardiac death and stroke, diabetes, hypertension and impaired function of the immune and musculoskeletal system. The action of vitamin D on the cardiovascular system regulates cardiac function, endothelial and vascular smooth muscle, and, the renin-angiotensin system. Treatment with sufficiently high doses of vitamin D may represent a promising and inexpensive intervention option. To date, there are few data on the effect of cholecalciferol treatment in patients with chronic heart failure. The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether oral vitamin D supplementation improves chronic heart failure (measured with the surrogate parameter of NT-proBNP levels at month 0 and 6).