List Info

Thread: 5427 There is a natural way to beat Cardiomyopathy - Taurine p
5427 There is a natural way to beat Cardiomyopathy - Taurine p
country flaguser name
United States		 2007-11-06 22:02:09 

  


  

    

Cardiomyopathy



Illustration




Breathe easier and return your heart to better health 
by dealing with the damage caused by cardiomyopathy. According to research or 
other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful:




What you need to know




    
  
  • See a specialist 
  
  • Consult a cardiologist for advice on treating your 
  type of cardiomyopathy and its underlying causes 


    
  
  • Count on coenzyme Q10 
  
  • At mealtime, take 100 to 150 mg a day of this 
  powerful antioxidant to improve quality of life, heart function, and survival 
  rates 


    
  
  • Get help from hawthorn 
  
  • Relieve heart failure symptoms associated with 
  cardiomyopathy by taking 160 to 900 mg a day of a standardized extract of this 
  heart-healthy herb 


    
  
  • Kick the habits 
  
  • Prevent cardiomyopathy and its complications by 
  limiting or giving up alcohol and ending your addiction to cigarettes 


    
  
  • Discover arjun 
  
  • Improve heart function by taking 500 mg of a 
  concentrated extract of this herb three times a day 


These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not 
intended to replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Continue reading 
the full cardiomyopathy article for more in-depth, fully-referenced information 
on medicines, vitamins, herbs, and dietary and lifestyle changes that may be 
helpful.





About cardiomyopathy


Cardiomyopathy refers to abnormalities in the structure or function of the 
heart muscle. There are three major types of cardiomyopathy: dilated congestive, 
hypertrophic, and restrictive.


The most prevalent form is dilated congestive cardiomyopathy (DCM). In people 
with DCM, the heart muscle is damaged, most commonly by coronary artery disease 
(atherosclerosis).1 
People with diabetes 
have been reported to be at increased risk of DCM.2 DCM can also be 
triggered by alcohol abuse, infections, 
exposure to certain drugs and toxins, nutritional deficiencies, connective 
tissue diseases, hereditary disorders, and pregnancy.


In DCM, the heart gradually loses its efficiency as a pump. Cardiomyopathy is 
a serious health condition and requires expert medical care rather than 
self-treatment. However, because of the associations between cardiomyopathy and 
diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, 
and congestive 
heart failure, lifestyle recommendations for the prevention of these 
conditions may also help prevent DCM.


Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is usually a hereditary disorder, although the 
incidence of this form of cardiomyopathy may also be higher in people with 
hypertension.3 Restrictive cardiomyopathy is usually due to a 
connective tissue disease, cancer, 
or an autoimmune condition. Both hypertrophic and restrictive cardiomyopathies 
are relatively uncommon.




Product ratings 
for cardiomyopathy



  

    Science Ratings
    Nutritional Supplements
    Herbs

  

    2Stars
    
      
Coenzyme 
      Q10

    
      
Arjun

      
Hawthorn 
      (if congestive 
      heart failure is also present)

  

    1Star
    
      
L-carnitine 
      (only for children with inherited cardiomyopathy)

      
Selenium 
      (only for Keshan’s cardiomyopathy)

      
Taurine


      
Vitamin 
      B1 (Thiamine) (only for wet beri beri)

    
      
Coleus

      
Dan shen

      
Hawthorn 
      (if congestive 
      heart failure is not present)

  

    3Stars Reliable 
      and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health 
      benefit.
2Stars 
      Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health 
      benefit or minimal health benefit.
1Star For an 
      herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. 
      For a supplement, little scientific support and/or minimal health 
    benefit.






People with cardiomyopathy may have difficulty breathing during light 
exertion, and they may become fatigued easily. Other chronic symptoms are 
swelling around the ankles and an enlarged abdomen.




Medical options


Prescription drug therapy is directed toward treating any underlying cause. 
Medications used include cholesterol-lowering drugs, such as atorvastatin 
(Lipitor) and rosuvastatin 
(Crestor); ACE 
inhibitors, such as captopril 
(Capoten), enalapril 
(Vasotec), and lisinopril 
(Zestril, Prinivil); beta-blockers, 
such as atenolol 
(Tenormin), carvedilol 
(Coreg), and metoprolol 
(Lopressor, Toprol XL); the combination of hydralazine 
(Apresoline) and isosorbide 
dinitrate (Isordil); digoxin 
(Lanoxin); and diuretics, 
such as hydrochlorothiazide 
(HydroDIURIL) and furosemide 
(Lasix).


Severe cases might require heart transplantation surgery.




Dietary changes that may be helpful


Protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) may cause cardiomyopathy, though PCM is 
rare in U.S. society.




Lifestyle changes that may be helpful


Cardiomyopathy occurs with greater frequency in people who drink to 
excess.4 Alcoholics are at significantly greater risk of developing a 
deficiency of thiamine 
(vitamin B1).5 6 They also may develop a form of thiamine 
deficiency called wet beri beri or Shoshin beri beri, which frequently includes 
cardiomyopathy.7 8 See “Nutritional supplements that may 
be helpful,” below, for more information.


Among alcoholics, the risk of developing DCM is greater for women than for 
men.9 Many doctors suggest that people with cardiomyopathy abstain 
from alcohol consumption. People with alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy who avoid 
alcohol may regain their health.


Moderate to heavy physical activity can be life-threatening for people with 
cardiomyopathy;10 however, appropriate exercise often improves the 
condition.11 12 13 14 How much is 
“too much” varies from person to person. Any exercise program undertaken by 
someone with cardiomyopathy requires professional supervision.


The risk of being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy goes up with the number of 
cigarettes smoked per day.15 16 However, a few studies 
have reported a paradoxical decrease in the death rate among smokers 
with DCM compared with nonsmokers who have this disease.17 
18 While the meaning of this association remains unclear, virtually 
all doctors recommend that smokers with DCM quit smoking for a wide variety of 
health-related reasons.




Vitamins that may be helpful


People with DCM have been shown to be deficient in coenzyme 
Q10.19 Most studies using coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of 
cardiomyopathy have demonstrated positive results, including improved quality of 
life, heart function tests, and survival rates.20 21 
22 Coenzyme Q10 also has been shown to improve cardiac function in 
people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy—a less common form of 
cardiomyopathy.23 A few studies, however, have found no benefit from 
CoQ10 supplementation in treating people with cardiomyopathy.24 
25 Despite a lack of consistency in the outcomes of published 
research, many doctors recommend that 100 to 150 mg be taken each day, with 
meals.



Deficiency of L-carnitine, 
an amino 
acid, is associated with the development of some forms of 
cardiomyopathy.26 Inherited forms of cardiomyopathy seen in children 
may be the most responsive to therapy with L-carnitine.27 
28 Whether carnitine supplementation helps the average person with 
cardiomyopathy remains unknown. Nonetheless, some doctors recommend 1 to 3 grams 
of carnitine per day for adults of average weight.


Several veterinary studies have demonstrated benefits from supplementation 
with taurine, 
another amino acid, in animals with cardiomyopathy. Most of these studies showed 
taurine deficiency to be a cause of cardiomyopathy. Taurine supplementation in 
animals with DCM has resulted in improvement of symptoms and survival 
rates.29 30 However, clinical studies in humans are 
lacking; thus, despite a good safety record, the benefits of taurine 
supplementation in people with any form of cardiomyopathy remain speculative. 
When taurine supplements are used by doctors to treat people with other 
conditions, 2 grams taken three times per day for a total of 6 grams per day is 
often recommended.


Selenium 
deficiency has occasionally been reported as a cause of 
cardiomyopathy.31 32 Selenium deficiency is the probable 
cause of Keshan’s disease, a form of cardiomyopathy found in China33 
34 but only rarely reported in the United States.35 
Studies comparing populations in parts of the world other than mainland China 
have not supported a link between selenium deficiency and DCM,36 
37 except in Taiwan.38 Moreover, no clinical trials 
outside of China have explored the effects of supplementation with selenium for 
people with DCM, nor is there reason to believe that selenium supplementation 
would help most people outside of China and Taiwan suffering from 
cardiomyopathy.


The small proportion of people with cardiomyopathy whose disease is due to 
severe vitamin 
B1 (thiamine) deficiency (known as wet beri beri) generally require 
intravenous vitamin B1, followed by oral supplementation. Vitamin B1 does not 
appear to be helpful for other types of cardiomyopathy. People requiring vitamin 
B1 for cardiomyopathy must first be diagnosed as having wet beri beri, and 
treatment must be supervised by a healthcare professional.




Are there any side effects or 
interactions?
Refer to the individual supplement for information about 
any side effects or interactions.




Herbs that may be helpful


Many doctors expert in herbal medicine consider hawthorn to 
be an effective and low-risk therapy for congestive 
heart failure, the main complication of cardiomyopathy. Rigorous clinical 
trials have now confirmed the effectiveness of hawthorn for the signs and 
symptoms of early-stage congestive heart failure,39 40 
41 though hawthorn studies with cardiomyopathy patients have yet to 
be conducted. The clinical trials with heart-failure patients have demonstrated 
efficacy using 80 to 300 mg of standardized extract of hawthorn leaves and 
flowers two to three times per day.


Two herbs used in the traditional medicine of India (Ayurveda) 
to treat people with cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure have recently 
been supported by a small amount of clinical research. Arjun (Terminalia 
arjuna) has been shown to significantly improve the signs and symptoms of 
cardiomyopathy, as well as the objective measurements of heart 
function.42 In a clinical trial, people with DCM and severe heart 
failure took 500 mg of arjun extract three times daily. After two weeks, 
significant improvement in heart function was observed, an effect that continued 
over the course of approximately two years.43 The arjun used in this 
study was concentrated, but not standardized for any particular constituent. 
Commercial preparations are sometimes standardized to contain 1% arjunolic 
acid.


Another Ayurvedic herb, coleus, 
contains forskolin, a substance that may help dilate blood vessels and improve 
the forcefulness with which the heart pumps blood.44 Recent clinical 
studies indicate that forskolin improves heart function in people with 
cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.45 46 A 
preliminary trial found that forskolin reduced blood pressure and improved heart 
function in people with cardiomyopathy. These trials used intravenous injections 
of isolated forskolin. It is unknown whether oral coleus extracts would have the 
same effect. While many doctors and practitioners of herbal medicine would 
recommend 200 to 600 mg per day of a coleus extract containing 10% forskolin, 
these amounts are extrapolations and have yet to be confirmed by direct clinical 
research.


Dan shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), a Chinese herb, has been 
traditionally used to treat angina and 
coronary 
artery disease. Some studies suggest that dan shen may improve the force of 
heart contractions and coronary circulation, and may prevent damage to the heart 
muscle that might lead to cardiomyopathy.47 48 
49 However, no clinical trials of dan shen for DCM have been 
reported. Doctors expert in Chinese herbal medicine typically recommend 1 to 6 
grams per day of dried root.




Are there any side effects or 
interactions?
Refer to the individual herb for information about any 
side effects or interactions.




References


1. Beers MH and Berkow R, eds. The Merck Manual, 
17th ed. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc., 1999, 1692.


2. Coughlin SS, Pearle DL, Baughman KL, et al. Diabetes 
mellitus and risk of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. The Washington, DC 
Dilated Cardiomyopathy Study. Ann Epidemiol 1994;4(1):67–74.


3. Post WS, Larson MG, Levy D. Hemodynamic predictors of 
incident hypertension. The Framingham Heart Study. Hypertension 
1994;24(5):585–90.


4. McKenna CJ, Codd MB, McCann HA, Sugrue DD. Alcohol 
consumption and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: a case control study. Am 
Heart J 1998;135(5 Pt 1):833–7.


5. Hoyumpa AM. Mechanisms of vitamin deficiencies in 
alcoholism. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 1986;10(6):573–81.


6. Lieber CS. Alcohol-nutrition interaction: 1984 update. 
Alcohol 1984;1(2):151–7.


7. Klatsky AL. The cardiovascular effects of alcohol. 
Alcohol 1987;Suppl 1:117–24.


8. Friedman HS. Cardiovascular effects of alcohol with 
particular reference to the heart. Alcohol 1984;1(4):333–9.


9. Urbano-Marquez A, Estruch R, Fernandez-Sola J, et al. The 
greater risk of alcoholic cardiomyopathy and myopathy in women compared with 
men. JAMA 1995;274(2):149–54.



10. Valgaeren G, Conraads V, Colpaert C, et al. Sudden death 
in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: risk stratification and prevention. Acta 
Cardiol 1998;53(1):23–9.


11. Belardinelli R, Georgiou D, Cianci G, et al. Effects of 
exercise training on left ventricular filling at rest and during exercise in 
patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and severe left ventricular systolic 
dysfunction. Am Heart J 1996;132(1 Pt 1):61–70.


12. Belardinelli R, Georgiou D, Cianci G, et al. Exercise 
training improves left ventricular diastolic filling in patients with dilated 
cardiomyopathy. Clinical and prognostic implications. Circulation 
1995;91(11):2775–84.


13. Wielenga RP, Erdman RA, Huisveld IA, et al. Effect of 
exercise training on quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure. 
J Psychosom Res 1998;45(5):459–64.


14. Hambrecht R, Fiehn E, Weigl C, et al. Regular physical 
exercise corrects endothelial dysfunction and improves exercise capacity in 
patients with chronic heart failure. Circulation 
1998;98(24):2709–15.


15. Coughlin SS, Neaton JD, Sengupta A, Kuller LH. Predictors 
of mortality from idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in 356,222 men screened for 
the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. Am J Epidemiol 
1994;139(2):166–72.


16. Hartz AJ, Ratner ER, Sinoway LI, Bartholomew MJ. Smoking 
and idiopathic congestive cardiomyopathy. Jpn Heart J 
1996;37(3):401–7.



17. Juilliere Y, Danchin N, Briancon S, et al. Dilated 
cardiomyopathy: long-term follow-up and predictors of survival. Int J 
Cardiol 1988;21(3):269–77.


18. Metayer C, Coughlin SS, Mather FJ. Does cigarette smoking 
paradoxically increase survival in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy? The 
Washington, D.C., Dilated Cardiomyopathy Study. Cardiology 
1996;87(6):502–8.



19. Manzoli U, Rossi E, Littarru GP, et al. Coenzyme Q10 in 
dilated cardiomyopathy. Int J Tissue React 1990;12(3):173–8.


20. Pogessi L, Galanti G, Comeglio M, et al. Effect of 
coenzyme Q10 on left ventricular function in patients with dilative 
cardiomyopathy. Curr Ther Res 1991;49:878–86.


21. Langsjoen PH, Vadhanavikit S, Folkers K. Response of 
patients in classes III and IV of cardiomyopathy to therapy in a blind and 
crossover trial with coenzyme Q10. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 
1985;82:4240–4.


22. Ma A, Zhang W, Liu Z. Effect of protection and repair of 
injury of mitochondrial membrane-phospholipid on prognosis in patients with 
dilated cardiomyopathy. Blood Press Suppl 1996;3:53–5.


23. Belardinelli R, Georgiou D, Cianci G, et al. Effects of 
exercise training on left ventricular filling at rest and during exercise in 
patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and severe left ventricular systolic 
dysfunction. Am Heart J 1996;132(1 Pt 1):61–70.


24. Bresolin N, Doriguzzi C, Ponzetto C, et al. Ubidecarenone 
in the treatment of mitochondrial myopathies: a multi-center double-blind trial. 
J Neurol Sci 1990;100:70–8.


25. Permanetter B, Rossey W, Weingartner F, et al. Lack of 
effectiveness of coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinone) in long-term treatment of dilated 
cardiomyopathy. Z Kardiol 1989;78:360–5 [in German].



26. Paulson DJ. Carnitine deficiency-induced cardiomyopathy. 
Mol Cell Biochem 1998;180(1–2):33–41.


27. Winter S, Jue K, Prochazka J, et al. The role of 
L-carnitine in pediatric cardiomyopathy. J Child Neurol 1995;10 Suppl 
2:S45–51.


28. Kothari SS, Sharma M. L-carnitine in children with 
idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Indian Heart J 1998;50:59–61.


29. Kittleson MD, Keene B, Pion PD, Loyer CG. Results of the 
multicenter spaniel trial (MUST): taurine- and carnitine-responsive dilated 
cardiomyopathy in American cocker spaniels with decreased plasma taurine 
concentration. J Vet Intern Med 1997;11:204–11.


30. Pion PD, Kittleson MD, Thomas WP, et al. Response of cats 
with dilated cardiomyopathy to taurine supplementation. J Am Vet Med 
Assoc 1992;201:275–84.


31. Auzepy P, Blondeau M, Richard C, et al. Serum selenium 
deficiency in myocardial infarction and congestive cardiomyopathy. Acta 
Cardiol 1987;42:161–6.


32. Oster O, Prellwitz W, Kasper W, Meinertz T. Congestive 
cardiomyopathy and the selenium content of serum. Clin Chim Acta 
1983;29(128):125–32.


33. Xu GL, Wang SC, Gu BQ, et al. Further investigation on 
the role of selenium deficiency in the aetiology and pathogenesis of Keshan 
disease. Biomed Environ Sci 1997;10:316–26.


34. Neve J. Selenium as a risk factor for cardiovascular 
diseases. J Cardiovasc Risk 1996;3:42–7.


35. Collipp PJ, Chen SY. Cardiomyopathy and selenium 
deficiency in a two-year-old girl. N Engl J Med 1981;304:1304–5 
[letter].


36. Raines DA, Kinsara AJ, Eid Fawzy M, et al. Plasma and 
urinary selenium in Saudi Arabian patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Biol 
Trace Elem Res 1999;69:59–68.


37. Ikram H, Crozier IG, Webster M, Low CJ. The role of 
selenium deficiency in occidental dilated cardiomyopathy. N Z Med J 
1989;102:100–2.


38. Chou HT, Yang HL, Tsou SS,et al. Status of trace elements 
in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in central Taiwan. Chung 
Hua I Hsueh Tsa Chih (Taipei) 1998;61:193–8.


39. Weikl A, Assmus KD, Neukum-Schmidt A, et al. Crataegus 
Special Extract WS 1442. Assessment of objective effectiveness in patients with 
heart failure. Fortschr Med 1996;114:291–6 [in German].



40. Weihmayr T, Ernst E. Therapeutic effectiveness of 
Crataegus. Fortschr Med 1996;114:27–9 [in German].



41. Leuchtgens H. Crataegus Special Extract WS 1442 in NYHA 
II heart failure. A placebo controlled randomized double-blind study. 
Fortschr Med 1993;111:352–4 [in German].



42. Dwivedi S, Jauhari R. Beneficial effects of Terminalia 
arjuna in coronary artery disease. Indian Heart J 1997;49:507–10.


43. Bharani A, Ganguly A, Bhargava KD. Salutary effect of 
Terminalia Arjuna in patients with severe refractory heart failure. Int J 
Cardiol 1995;49:191–9.


44. Lindner E, Dohadwalla AN, Bhattacharya BK. Positive 
inotropic and blood pressure lowering activity of a diterpene derivative 
isolated from Coleus forskohli: forskolin. Arzneimittelforschung 
1978;28:284–9.


45. Baumann G, Felix S, Sattelberger U, Klein G. 
Cardiovascular effects of forskolin (HL 362) in patients with idiopathic 
congestive cardiomyopathy—a comparative study with dobutamine and sodium 
nitroprusside. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 1990;16:93–100.


46. Kramer W, Thormann J, Kindler M, Schlepper M. Effects of 
forskolin on left ventricular function in dilated cardiomyopathy. 
Arzneimittelforschung 1987;37:364–7.


47. Takeo S, Tanonaka K, Hirai K, et al. Beneficial effect of 
tan-shen, an extract from the root of Salvia, on post-hypoxic recovery of 
cardiac contractile force. Biochem Pharmacol 1990 40:1137–43.


48. Bai YR, Wang SZ. Hemodynamic study on nitroglycerin 
compared with Salvia miltiorrhiza. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa 
Chih 1994;14:24–5 [in Chinese].


49. Xing ZQ, Zeng XC, Yi CT. Effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza on 
serum lipid peroxide, superoxide dismutase of the patients with coronary heart 
disease. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih 1996;16:287–8 [in 
Chinese].







--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~

You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MedicalConspiracies" group.
 
 To post to this group, send email to:
 
    MedicalConspiraciesgooglegroups.com
 
 To unsubscribe from this group, send email to:
 
    MedicalConspiracies-unsubscribegooglegroups.com
 
 For more options, visit this group at: 
 
    http://groups.google.com/group/MedicalConspiracies
 
 
«€»₯«€»§«€»₯«€»§«€»₯«€»§«€»₯«€»§«€»₯«€»§«€»₯«€«€»₯«€»§«€»₯«€»§«

 
 If Paranormal Research and Medical Conspiracies are of interest check out:
 
    Paranormal_Research = Scientific Data & Health Conspiracies
 
 
To visit Paranormal_Research on the web, go to:
 
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Paranormal_Research/
 
 
To subscribe to this group, send an email to:
 
     Paranormal_Research-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
 
 
   Any information here in is for educational purpose only, it may be news related, purely speculation or someone's opinion, If health related always consult with a qualified health practitioner before deciding on any course of treatment, especially for serious or life-threatening illnesses.
 
 
**COPYRIGHT NOTICE**
 
 In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107,
 
 any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.     http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml 
 -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---



  

  
  
   
     
    






 [1]











   
 





about | contact  Other archives ( Real Estate discussion Medical topics )