Ten easy steps to treat Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy or heart failure should be treated by a cardiologist. He will often employ an ACE inhibitor (blood pressure) and a Beta-blocker (heart rhythm) and, when necessary, diuretics. This regular treatment can be supplemented very well with an orthomolecular protocol. First consult with your cardiologist if he has any objection to employing supplements. A nutritional supplement is actually food in a sort of concentrated form. The nutritional supplements mentioned in this article can be used without any objection in addition to the regular medication your cardiologist prescribed for the treatment of cardiomyopathy (heart failure).

This information (and any accompanying printed material) is not intended to replace the attention or advice of a physician or other health care professional. Anyone who wishes to embark on any dietary, drug, exercise, or other lifestyle change intended to prevent or treat a specific disease or condition should first consult with and seek clearance from a qualified health care professional.

Ten easy steps in the treatment of Cardiomyopathy (heart failure)

Step 1: MSM and chromium, more energy and improved oxygen transport

MSM and chromium can be used to supply the body with more enegy. MSM improves the oxygen transport in the body, not an unnecessary luxury for patients suffering from heart failure. Chromium improves the metabolising of carbohydrates which increases the amount of bio-energy (ATP)

The biologist David W.Gregg thinks that MSM and the related compound DMSO make up a sort of transport system for oxygen in the body which supplies cardiomyopathy patients with more energy through enhanced oxygen transport. Some patients can not handle the detoxification that the use of MSM causes. They may experience intestinal complaints, headaches and skin rashes. Start therefore on a low dose of MSM and halve the dose in case of detoxification complaints.
Chromium improves the metabolising of carbohydrates which makes more energy available to the body. Chromium has more beneficial effects: it has life extending properties and aids in prevention of Type II diabetes.
If using the combination chromium and MSM does not alleviate the fatigue complaints within four weeks you should discontinue these supplements and move on to the next phase. If the fatigue has clearly decreased however continue these supplements at least until the EJF has improved significantly.
MSM improves oxygen transport in the body and chromium elevates the production of bio-energy, but they do not have any further role in treating cardiomyopathy.

Step 2: Q-10, L-Carnitine and Taurine, the basis of the cardiomyopathy protocol

After introducing MSM and chromium (4 to 6 weeks) the basic protocol can begin: CoQ10, L-carnitine and taurine.

Q-10 is one of the three basic supplements from the prtocol.Q-10 plays an important part in the mitochondria (power plants) of the heart cells. Q-10 improves the generation of energy in the heart so the heart can function better and the EJF is elevated.
L-Carnitine improves the burning of fatty acids (fat) Heart cells depend for their energy supply mostly on the burning of fat. Disruption of the process of fat burning can cause cardiomyopathy. The underlying cause of this disruption could be hereditary (genetic) so the body is not able to produce sufficient carnitine. Other Scientific Studies support the use of L-carnitine in the treatment of cardiomyopathy.
Q-10 and L-Carnitine act synergicly (they augment each other). Thus it is sensible to use both supplements simultaneously.
Taurine also belongs to the group of three basic supplements for the treatment of cardiomyopathy (heart failure). Other Scientific Studies support the use of Taurine in the treatment of cardiomyopathy.

Step 3: Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamins C and E, prevention of arteriosclerosis.

After another 4 to 6 weeks the third phase of the protocol can be introduced: Alpha lipoic acid, vitamin E and vitamin C. This phase has special significance for patients that suspect their cardiomyopathy was caused by a heart infarct. Alpha lipoic acid and vitamins E and C supply the body with sufficient water- and fat-soluble antioxydants. This provides an increased protection against the progression of cardiovascular disease.

Vitamin K Alert

Cardiologists sometimes treat cardiomyopathy patients with anti-coagulants (blood thinners) such as acenocourmarol to prevent blood clots caused by the poorly functioning heart. These clots might cause strokes and heart infarcts. However,many multivitamin supplements contain vitamin K which inhibits the effect of acenocourmarol. Some brands contain too much vitamin K. Be aware of this with your selection of a multivitamin supplement and seek medical advise from a specialist if necessary.

Step 4: Magnesium and Potassium, treatment cardiac arrhythmia and high bloodpressure

If cardiac arrhythmia persists after the introduction of the third phase magnesium can be employed to try and alleviate the arrhythmia. Magnesium also plays an important part in the treatment of cardiomyopathy, lowering bloodpressure and prevention of other cardiovascular disease. Suppletion of Potassium can alleviate cardiac arrhythmia. Bananas and fruit juice are sources of potassium. Try eating 4 to 5 bananas a day and see if this brings about an improvement. Potassium suppletion is also a possibility. The smallest effective dose is the best dose. Have your bloodserum values checked on a regular basis when using a potassium supplement. Give this information to your doctor.

Step 5: More exercise

If you start feeling better after circa six months consult your cardiologist whether he approves more exercise. It is often sufficient to take a walk for half an hour every day (seven days a week). Take care not to get out of breath during your walking.”Walk and talk”.

Step 6: Nutrition

Sunflower oil Alert In the late nineteen fifties the promotion began: saturated fats are bad. Unsaturated fats are good. Sunflower oil and vegetable margarine based on sunflower oil supposedly protected the heart against disease, but the reverse was true. Following the introduction of many products based on sunflower oil the incidence of cardiovascular disease only increased. Now we know that sunflower oil, linoleic acid, is very bad for the heart. The linoleic acid in sunflower oil causes inflammation of our arterial walls and arteriosclerosis.
Eat more essential fatty acids. For years cardiologists advised patients to use little fat to prevent cardiovascular disease. However, recent research shows that it is not the quantity but the sort of fat that is consumed that is important in decreasing the occurrance of cardiovascular disease. Foods rich in unsaturated omega 3 fatty acids seem to decrease the chance of getting cardiovascular diseases. Especially fish fats appear to be very good for cardiac health. For this reason eat fatty fish 2 to 3 times a week. Consider fish oil supplements if that is not feasible. Extra fish oil supplements are especially important for patients that still suffer from cardiac arrhythmia.
Eat less carbohydrates.Atkins was right all along. Carbohydrates and not fat were causing obesity. According to research from Acheson published July 2004 nutrition low in carbohydrates is not just recommended for treating obesity, nutrition low in carbohydrates also decreases the probability of developing cardiovascular diseases. Research by Auley supports these findings.
Eat more fiber. According to Doctor Saskia van As who practices natural medicine eating enough food fiber solves a large number of “prosperity diseases”, among others cardiovascular disease. Many scientific studies support this view. Doctor van As has some bad news for people who eat brown bread. Brown bread does not contain sufficient fiber. Two slices of brown bread barely contain 3 grams while a person requires more than 50 grams a day to stay healthy. Two slices of white bread contain even less: only one gram of fiber. In a research paper in 2002 Rubio concludes that a varied amount of 25 to 30 grams of fiber a day decreases the chance of “prosperity diseases” like cancer, gastro-intestinal diseases, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Eat food with a low glycemic index. The Glycemic Index (GI) represents the effect that food has on the blood glucose level two or three hours after eating. Carbohydrates are quickly absorbed and converted into glucose and thus have a high glycemic index. So the index indicates how quickly carbohydrates are converted into glucose. In a research paper published in June 2000 Liu S writes that the glycemic index shows a clear correlation with the probability of developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes type II. Nutrition with a higher GI increases the probability of getting these diseases

Step 7: Selenium

A deficiency of selenium can cause cardiomyopathy. Unfortunately the cardiologist does not measure the level of selenium in the blood. That is why this cause is overlooked. English research indicates that the population consumes on average circa 60 micrograms of selenium per day while everybody agrees that a daily value of more than 100 micrograms would be much better. A deficiency in the soil is probably responsible for the low levels of selenium in the Enhglish food. The situation in the Netherlands is probably not much better.

Step 8: DHEA

Blood screening of cardiomyopathy patients indicates that these patients generally have lower DHEA levels. The level of DHEA in the blood is in direct proportion to the severity of the cardiomyopathy. DHEA is probably able to protect the heart against changing shape. DHEA is a hormone. A simple blood screening can determine the level. DHEA is an important part of the treatment of cardiomyopathy, especially for older patients. DHEA is also used for life extension. DHEA is a prescription medication and must be prescribed by a doctor. The dose depends on the determined level of DHEA in the blood.

Men with prostate cancer or prostatitis should not use DHEA. Men older than 40 years that use DHEA should have their PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) level tested once a year in order to diagnose prostate cancer in an early stage.

L-Arginine Alert

Patients recovering from a heart infarct are advised by me not to use l-arginine because research done in 2006 indicates that l-arginine has an adverse effect for this group of patients. This alert therefore only applies to patients recovering from a heart infarct. Other groups of patients can use l-arginine without objection to treat cardiovascular diseases such as cardiomyopathy, angina pectoris and high blood pressure

Step 9: Growth hormone releasers

Research indicates that patients diagnosed with cardiomyopathy without a known cause often have blood levels of growth hormone that are too low. Suppletion of growth hormone significantly alleviates the complaints with this group of patients. Patients with a dilated cardiomyopathy can also derive much benefit from growth hormone therapy. Growth hormones can only be administered by means of injections. Sometimes that can be difficult. L-Arginine however can be used to induce the body to elevate its own production of growth hormone. L-Arginine is an amino acid and must be taken on an empty stomach before bedtime.

Step 10: Maintenance protocol

Available later this year.

References Scientific Research cardiomyopathy (heart failure)

DMSO and MSM The Biochemical Oxygen Transport Pair Once it is understood that DMSO (& MSM) acts as a profoundly effective oxygen transport system, this opens up the opportunity to use this information to treat a multitude of medical disorders, immediate and long term that are caused by a deficiency of oxygen transport.
Response of patients in classes III and IV of cardiomyopathy to therapy in a blind and crossover trial with coenzyme Q10 These patients, steadily worsening and expected to die within 2 years under conventional therapy, generally showed an extraordinary clinical improvement, indicating that CoQ10 therapy might extend the lives of such patients. This improvement could be due to correction of a myocardial deficiency of CoQ10 and to enhanced synthesis of CoQ10-requiring enzymes.
Increases in walking distance in patients with peripheral vascular disease treated with L-carnitine: a double-blind, cross-over study A double-blind, cross-over study was designed to evaluate the effects of L-carnitine in patients with peripheral vascular disease.
L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 protective action against ischaemia and reperfusion of working rat heart Although the molecular mechanisms remain to be defined, it appears that the association of L-carnitine and coenzyme Q10 is more effective than using these compounds separately.
Conditioned nutritional requirements: therapeutic relevance to heart failure These experiments suggest that a comprehensive restoration of adequate myocyte nutrition may be important to any therapeutic strategy designed to benefit patients suffering from congestie heart failure. Future studies in this area are of clinical importance
Effect of combined supplementation with vitamin E and alpha-lipoic acid on myocardial performance during in vivo ischaemia-reperfusion These data indicate that dietary supplementation of the antioxidants, VE and alpha-LA do not influence cardiac performance or the incidence of dysrhythmias but do decrease lipid peroxidation during in vivo I-R in young adult rats.
Supplementation with vitamins C and E suppresses leukocyte oxygen free radical production in patients with myocardial infarction In conclusion, supplementation with vitamins C and E suppresses neutrophil OFR production and lowers the marker of lipid peroxidation in patients with MI.
Antiarrhythmic action of pharmacological administration of magnesium in heart failure: a critical review of new data The evidence reviewed suggests that serum magnesium concentrations should be monitored and corrected in patients with congestive heart failure. Ventricular arrhythmias may respond to acute intravenous magnesium administration, which should be considered as early therapy.
Usefulness of magnesium sulfate in stabilizing cardiac repolarization in heart failure secondary to ischemic cardiomyopathy Thus, MgSO(4) stabilizes cardiac repolarization in patients with compensated heart failure due to ischemic heart disease. Magnesium therapy may be useful in altering the proarrhythmic substrate in heart failure.
Effects of magnesium on blood pressure and intracellular ion levels of Brazilian hypertensive patients These data showed that oral magnesium supplementation may reduce the blood pressure, which can be partially explained by the decrease in intracellular sodium and augment in intracellular magnesium.
Role of magnesium in cardiac metabolism While many of the mechanisms remains elusive, the beneficial effects of magnesium on the myocardium appear to be convincing. Further studies will be necessary to elucidate the molecular basis of the cardio-protective effects of magnesium.
Antiarrhythmic effects of increasing the daily intake of magnesium and potassium in patients with frequent ventricular arrhythmias. Magnesium in Cardiac Arrhythmias (MAGICA) Investigators To our knowledge, this study is the first to provide controlled data on the antiarrhythmic effect of oral administration of magnesium and potassium salts when directed to patients with frequent and stable ventricular tachyarrhythmias. A 50% increase in the recommended minimum daily dietary intake of the two minerals for 3 weeks results in a moderate but significant antiarrhythmic effect. However, with the given therapeutic regimen, repetitive tachyarrhythmias and patient symptoms remain unchanged.
Exercise training in chronic heart failure: why, when and how Training increases exercise tolerance by an average of 20% in chronic heart failure regardless of etiology (ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy) or severity of left ventricular dysfunction. Available data, while limited, demonstrate that increases in exercise capacity are paralleled by an improvement in quality of life.
Linoleic acid induces MCP-1 gene expression in human microvascular endothelial cells through an oxidative mechan Linoleic acid is a dietary fatty acid that appears to play an important role in activation of the vascular endothelium under a variety of pathological conditions, including development of atherosclerosis or cancer metastasis.
Linoleic acid-induced endothelial activation: role of calcium and peroxynitrite signaling Our data suggest that the proinflammatory effects of LA can be mediated through calcium and peroxynitrite signaling.
Interplay between different polyunsaturated fatty acids and risk of coronary heart disease in men n-3 PUFAs from both seafood and plant sources may reduce CHD risk, with little apparent influence from background n-6 PUFA intake. Plant-based n-3 PUFAs may particularly reduce CHD risk when seafood-based n-3 PUFA intake is low, which has implications for populations with low consumption or availability of fatty fish
Fish intake and risk of incident heart f Among older adults, consumption of tuna or other broiled or baked fish, but not fried fish, is associated with lower incidence of CHF. Confirmation in additional studies and evaluation of potential mechanisms is warrant
Fish intake and risk of incident atrial fibr Among elderly adults, consumption of tuna or other broiled or baked fish, but not fried fish or fish sandwiches, is associated with lower incidence of AF. Fish intake may influence risk of this common cardiac arrhythmia
Carbohydrate and weight control: where do we stand? Low-carbohydrate, Atkins-type diets have been demonstrated to have positive effects on weight loss and biomarkers of cardiovascular risk, which has prompted some researchers to question the validity of present-day dietary guidelines. Although evidence is accumulating in their favour, the safety and efficacy of low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets needs further long-term
Physiological role of dietary fiber: a ten-year review It is accepted nowadays that dietary fiber is an important constituent of the diet. There is growing evidence that the low fiber Western diets and the low consumption of whole grain products are important factors in several common diseases of the large bowel. Cereal fiber differs from that present in vegetables and fruit. A low intake of cereal fiber has been implicated in cancer of the large bowel, diverticular disease of the colon and coronary heart disease. High fiber diets are often prescribed for diabetes. Although fiber consumption by British and American consumers has decreased over the past century, consumption of whole wheat breads and fiber-rich breakfast cereals has received new attention during the past ten years
Implications of fiber in different pathologies Three decades ago, the observations of Trowell and Burkitt gave rise to the "fibre theory", in which it was contended that there was a link between the consumption of a diet rich in fibre and non-processed carbohydrates and the level of protection against many of the "first world diseases" such as constipation, diverticulosis, cancer of the colon, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease
Congestive cardiomyopathy and the selenium content of serum A positive correlation was found between serum selenium content and the left ventricular ejection fraction. Our results suggest that a deficiency of selenium may be present in a number of patients with congestive cardiomyopathy.
Trace nutrients. Selenium in British food The total intake, and the amounts of Se in major foods, were lower than in most other studies. This is probably the result of the comparatively low levels of this element in British soil.
The plasma levels of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate are decreased in patients with chronic heart failure in proportion to the severity These results indicate that the plasma levels of DHEAS are decreased in patients with CHF in proportion to its severity and that oxidative stress is associated with decreased levels of DHEAS in patients with CHF.
Possible Association of Heart Failure Status With Synthetic Balance Between Aldosterone and Dehydroepiandrosterone in Human Heart CYP17 gene expression and production of DHEA were demonstrated in human control heart. Also, we found that cardiac production of DHEA was suppressed in failing heart. We postulated that DHEA and/or its metabolites exert a cardioprotective action through antihypertrophic effects
Hormonal profile in patients with congestive heart failure Chronic heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy is associated with a significant decrease in growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor I, and testosterone concentrations, probably due to chronic disease.
Growth hormone therapy in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: preliminary observations of a pilot study The administration of growth hormone for six months in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy results in significant improvement in the symptomatic class, which could be considered as an additional line of management in patients
Growth hormone treatment in dilated cardiomyopathy A marked increase of ejection fraction of 7% was observed in patients whose IGF-1 increased by more than the median increase, in comparison to the patients with an increase below the median (p = 0.03). Serum levels of IGF-1 reflecting GH secretion are diminished in relation to severity of heart failure in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. GH-induced increases of IGF-1 of more than 80 pg/mL caused notable improvement of ejection fraction. There is a marked increase in LV mass in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy given GH. Changes in LV mass are related to changes in serum IGF-1 concentrations.
L-arginine reduces heart rate and improves hemodynamics in severe congestive heart failure L-arginine exerted no effect on contractility; however, by acting on systemic vascular resistance it improved cardiac performance. L-arginine showed a negative chronotropic effect. The possible beneficial effect of L-arginine on reversing endothelial dysfunction in CHF without changing LV contractility should be the subject of further investigations.
Low dose oral vitamin K to reverse acenocoumarol-induced coagulopathy: a randomized controlled trial We conclude that the omission of a single dose of acenocoumarol is associated with an effective reduction of the INR in asymptomatic patients presenting with an INR value of 4.5 to 10.0. Furthermore, the use of a 1 mg dose of oral vitamin K results in an excessive risk of over-reversal of the INR.

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