Thiamin and congestive heart failure

"ZURICH, SWITZERLAND. Diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix) are
universally used in the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart
failure. Medical researchers at the Zurich University Hospital now warn
that the use of diuretics may lead to a thiamin (vitamin-B1) deficiency
that in turn may further impair heart function. The researchers cite
several recent studies that have clearly established an association
between diuretics and urinary thiamin loss. They also point to other
studies that have found that 50 per cent of elderly people and 80 per
cent of heavy alcohol users suffer from a thiamin deficiency even
without taking diuretics.


A very recent study concluded that injection of 200 mg/day of thiamin
followed by six weeks of oral supplementation with 200 mg/day improved
the heart function very significantly in heart failure patients taking
diuretics (left ventricular ejection fraction increased by 22 per cent).


The use of diuretics has also been linked to an increase in homocysteine
levels and a decrease in magnesium levels. Magnesium is very important
for heart health and is also necessary in order to convert thiamin to
its active form (thiamin pyrophosphate). The Swiss researchers make the
interesting observation that poor appetite is a powerful indicator of a
thiamin deficiency in elderly patients with congestive heart failure.
They suggest that supplementation with 20-50 mg/day of thiamin should be
tried in elderly heart failure patients. This intervention is
inexpensive, safe and usually shows results within a few days. They also
suggest that supplementation with folic acid and magnesium may be
beneficial in order to counteract the homocysteine increase and
magnesium depletion often accompanying diuretic use."

[52 references]
Suter, Paolo M. and Vetter, Wilhelm. Diuretics and vitamin B1: are
diuretics a risk factor for thiamin malnutrition? Nutrition Reviews,
Vol. 58, October 2000, pp. 319-23

http://www.yourhealthbase.com/database/a109g.htm

These new subject lines of yours are *so* much better, Neuro. They
really help me to home in on what I want to learn about. Thank you for
considering my wee suggestion.

C

On - Mon, Aug 2, 2004, 9:07pm (EDT-3) cheggers2004@hotmail.com
(Cheggers) wrote:

> These new subject lines of yours are *so* much
> better, Neuro. They really help me to home in on
> what I want to learn about. Thank you for
> considering my wee suggestion.

HTH : )