Efficacy and safety of berberine for congestive heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Am J Cardiol. 2003 Jul 15;92(2):173-6. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9149(03)00533-2.

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of berberine for chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). One hundred fifty-six patients with CHF and >90 ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) and/or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) on 24-hour Holter monitoring were randomly divided into 2 groups. All patients were given conventional therapy for CHF, consisting of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, digoxin, diuretics, and nitrates. Patients in the treatment group (n = 79) were also given berberine 1.2 to 2.0 g/day. The remaining 77 patients were given placebo. Symptoms, a 6-minute walk test, left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), frequency and complexity of VPCs, and quality of life were assessed after 8 weeks of treatment and during a mean 24-month follow-up. After treatment with berberine, there was a significantly greater increase in LVEF, exercise capacity, improvement of the dyspnea-fatigue index, and a decrease of frequency and complexity of VPCs compared with the control group. There was a significant decrease in mortality in the berberine-treated patients during long-term follow-up (7 patients receiving treatment died vs 13 on placebo, p <0.02). Proarrhythmia was not observed, and there were no apparent side effects. Thus, berberine improved quality of life and decreased VPCs and mortality in patients with CHF.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Berberine / adverse effects*
  • Berberine / therapeutic use*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / complications*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / drug therapy*
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / mortality
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Exercise Test
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / etiology*
  • Heart Failure / mortality
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Ischemia / complications*
  • Myocardial Ischemia / drug therapy*
  • Myocardial Ischemia / mortality
  • Quality of Life
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Stroke Volume / drug effects
  • Survival Rate
  • Time Factors
  • Ventricular Premature Complexes / etiology*
  • Ventricular Premature Complexes / mortality
  • Ventricular Premature Complexes / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Berberine