Nitrite Supplements for Heart Failure

STUDY BASICS

Are you age 70 or older and have been told you have heart failure? If so, you may be able to be a part of a research study to help researchers better understand how using nitrite pills could help your muscles work better and help you enjoy life more. Compensation and parking provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

While many people think of heart failure as a disease that only affects the heart, doctors now believe that it actually affects the whole body. One area heart failure may affect is skeletal muscle, which includes the muscles of your arms and legs. Many people with heart failure feel weak and are not able to walk or do other things they want to. That may be related more to their skeletal muscle than to their hearts being weak. The purpose of this study is to help researchers learn more about how an investigational drug called inorganic nitrite (also known as sodium nitrite, or just nitrite) helps people with heart failure feel less tired. Nitrites are naturally occurring compounds found in a variety of foods we eat. For example, spinach contains nitrates and then our body changes it into nitrite for the body to use.

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?

• Age 70 and up
• Diagnosed with heart failure

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

This study involves 7-9 outpatient visits over 3 months. Participation includes various tests, assessments, and procedures. Participants in this study will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to receive either the nitrite pills or a placebo. The placebo looks just like the investigational nitrite pills but does not contain any active drug. Participants will take the nitrite pills or placebo for 4 weeks during the course of the study.