RESUMO
Although a series of cardiovascular risk factors have been recently identified, taurine deficiency has been demonstrated as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and has been poorly investigated in patients with Cardiac Heart Failure [CHF].The aim of present study was to investigate response of the cardiovascular physiological and functional markers following the short-term taurine supplementation and Burce protocol in patients with CHF. In a semi-experimental design, sixteen male CHF patients [classified in class II and III] aged between 50 to 65 yr. were randomly divided into taurine and placebo groups. The taurine group received 1.5 gr. of taurine [3 times daily 500 mg capsules], while at the same time, the placebo group consumed starch capsules for duration of 2 weeks. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, maximal activity time on treadmill by Bruce protocol, Vo2 peak and plasma taurine, cardiac troponin I and CPK-MB concentrations were measured before and after taurine supplementation by standard methods. Data was analyzed by using dependent and independent t- student tests at p