Thiamine supplementation in symptomatic chronic heart failure: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot study

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#adult #aged #chronic-disease #cross-over-studies #diuretics

Thiamine supplementation in symptomatic chronic heart failure: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot study

Schoenenberger et al., 2012 | Clin Res Cardiol | Rct

Citation

Schoenenberger Andreas W, Schoenenberger-Berzins Renate, ... Erne Paul. Thiamine supplementation in symptomatic chronic heart failure: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over pilot study. Clin Res Cardiol. 2012-Mar;101(3):159-64. doi:10.1007/s00392-011-0376-2

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Diuretic treatment for heart failure may lead to an increased urinary thiamine excretion and in long-term thiamine deficiency, which may further compromise cardiac function. This study evaluated the effect of high dose thiamine supplementation in heart failure patients. METHODS: Nine patients with diuretic treatment for symptomatic chronic heart failure and a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40% were randomly assigned to receive thiamine (300 mg/day) or placebo for 28 days. After a wash-out of 6 weeks, the patients crossed-over to a second treatment period. The primary outcome was a change in LVEF. RESULTS: Mean age was 56.7 ± 9.2 years (range 44.9-75.4 years). Baseline LVEF was similar for both treatment groups (29.5% in the thiamine group and 29.5% in the placebo group, P = 0.911). After 28 days of thiamine treatment, the LVEF increased to 32.8% which was significantly (P = 0.024) different from the LVEF in the placebo group (28.8%). This corresponds to a treatment effect for LVEF of 3.9% in absolute terms. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that thiamine supplementation has beneficial effects on cardiac function in patients with diuretic drugs for symptomatic chronic heart failure. Subclinical thiamine deficiency is probably an underestimated issue in these outpatients.

Key Findings

Mean age was 56.7 ± 9.2 years (range 44.9-75.4 years). Baseline LVEF was similar for both treatment groups (29.5% in the thiamine group and 29.5% in the placebo group, P = 0.911). After 28 days of thiamine treatment, the LVEF increased to 32.8% which was significantly (P = 0.024) different from the LVEF in the placebo group (28.8%). This corresponds to a treatment effect for LVEF of 3.9% in absolute terms.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population diuretic treatment for symptomatic
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition deficiency

MeSH Terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Chronic Disease
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Diuretics
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Heart Failure
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Thiamine
  • Thiamine Deficiency
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ventricular Function, Left

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Rct
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Vertical: thiamine-heart

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09