Vitamin D deficiency is common among older adults. Researchers from the University of Leeds designed the Vitamin D Treating Patients with Chronic Heart Failure (VINDICATE) study, involving 163 older patients already being treated for heart failure using standard accepted treatment, to learn whether vitamin D supplementation would benefit heart failure patients. They focused on patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Using ejection fraction, they measured how much blood pumps away from the heart with each beat. In healthy people, the ejection fraction is generally between 60 and 70%. Study participants average ejection fraction was 26%. Compared to placebo, patients taking a daily dose of 4,000 IU of vitamin D3 for twelve months experienced up to a 34% improvement in heart function.
Witte K, Gierula J, Paton MF, et al. Vitamin D Supplementation Improves Cardiac Function in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure. American College of Cardiology 65th Annual Scientific Session. 2016.