The study is designed as a short pilot study which will assess safety and efficacy of high dose Vitamin D therapy in a heart failure population.
A 6 month randomized double blind placebo-controlled trial of 50,000 units of oral vitamin D3(cholecalciferol) weekly plus 800 calcium daily vs. weekly placebo plus 800 calcium alone in 64 heart failure (HF) patients > 50 years old. This design was chosen over a cross-over design due to the long wash-out period for vitamin D.
New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-IV Able to walk Serum 25OHD level 37.5 ng/ml or less Fully titrated on heart failure medications
Exclusion Criteria:
Osteoporosis Primary hyperparathyroidism or hypercalcemia. Nephrolithiasis Hemo or peritoneal dialysis and/or creatinine of > 2.5 Current use of daily vitamin D greater than 400 IU, corticosteroids, parathyroid hormone (PTH), androgen or estrogen Current illicit drug user or > 3 alcoholic drinks a day Metastatic or advanced cancer Myocardial infarction in the preceding 6 months Medications which can lower vitamin D levels or bioavailability
