What are natural treatments for cardiomyopathy?

Introduction

Cardiomyopathy is a little-understood condition in which the
muscle tissue of the heart becomes diseased. There are several distinct forms of
cardiomyopathy that may or may not be similar in origin. Medical treatment
consists mainly of medications that attempt to compensate for the increasing
failure of the heart to function properly. A heart
transplant may ultimately be necessary.

Proposed Natural Treatments

Coenzyme Q
10. Preliminary evidence suggests that the naturally occurring
substance coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) might offer benefit in some
forms of cardiomyopathy. In a six-year trial, 143 people with moderately severe
cardiomyopathy were given CoQ10 daily in addition to standard medical
care. The results showed a significant improvement in cardiac function
(technically, ejection fraction) in 84 percent of the study participants. Most of
them improved by several stages on a scale that measures the severity of
heart
failure (technically, as classified by the New York Heart
Association). Furthermore, a comparison with persons on conventional therapy alone
appeared to show a reduction in mortality.

This study was an open trial, meaning that participants knew that they were being treated, and such studies are not fully reliable. There have been a few double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of CoQ10 in cardiomyopathy too. One such trial followed eighty people with various forms of cardiomyopathy for three years. Of those treated with CoQ10, 89 percent improved significantly, but when the treatment was stopped, their heart function deteriorated. No benefit was seen in another double-blind study, but it was a smaller and shorter trial and enrolled only people who had one particular type of cardiomyopathy (idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy).

Carnitine. A small amount of evidence indicates that the vitamin-like supplement carnitine may be useful in cardiomyopathy.

Herbs and Supplements to Use Only with Caution

Various herbs and supplements may interact adversely with drugs used to treat cardiomyopathy, so one should be cautious when considering the use of herbs and supplements.

Bibliography

Langsjoen, H., et al. “Usefulness of Coenzyme Q10 in Clinical Cardiology.” Molecular Aspects of Medicine 15, suppl. (1994): S165-S175.

Nodari, S., et al. “The Role of N-3 PUFAs in Preventing the Arrhythmic Risk in Patients with Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy.” Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy 23 (2008): 5-15.

Pepine, C. J. “The Therapeutic Potential of Carnitine in Cardiovascular Disorders.” Clinical Therapeutics 13 (1991): 2-21.

Winter, S., et al. “The Role of L-carnitine in Pediatric Cardiomyopathy.” Journal of Child Neurology 10, suppl. 2 (1995): S45-S51.