Magnesium Orotate and Congestive Heart Failure

Heart disease, especially congestive heart failure, is the biggest killer in the western world today. Unfortunately, over half of people with congestive heart failure have a type called "diastolic failure," for which standard medicine has little to offer. The good news is that natural therapies are very effective for heart disease in general and especially for "diastolic heart failure." (See "Addressing Heart Problems Naturally" for a detailed discussion on addressing heart disease naturally.)

A recent study showed just how powerfully effective simply supplementing with magnesium can be. In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study, 79 patients with severe congestive heart failure who were already on optimal medical therapy, were given either magnesium or placebo for one year. At the end of one year, only one quarter of the patients in the group that was given magnesium had died versus half of the patients in the placebo group (showing just how severe this disease is). In addition, clinical symptoms improved significantly in the group that was given magnesium versus the placebo group.

In the study, magnesium orotate 6,000 mg a day for one month followed by 3,000 mg a day for 11 months or placebo was given. Although much of the benefit came from the magnesium, it is likely that some also came from the orotate, and magnesium orotate is readily available online.

Summary

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 79 patients with severe congestive heart failure, patients were randomized to supplementation with magnesium orotate (6,000 mg/d for 1 month and 3,000 mg/d for 11 months) or placebo, for a period of 12 months. At the end of the study, significant differences in survival rate (75.7% in magnesium group vs. 51.6% in placebo group) and clinical symptoms (improved in 38.5% of patients in magnesium group and deteriorated in 56.3% of patients in placebo group) were seen. The authors of this study conclude, "Magnesium orotate may be used as adjuvant therapy in patients on optimal therapy for severe congestive heart failure, increasing survival rate and improving clinical symptoms and patient's quality of life."

Reference

"Magnesium orotate in severe congestive heart failure (MACH)," Sepura OB, Martynow AI, Int J Cardiol, 2009; 134(1): 145-7. (Address: Russian County Moscow University of Medicine, Moscow, Russia).