Hawthorne given for 6 months had no effect on six-minute-walk distance (6MWD), a test used to estimate functional exercise capacity, in patients (aged 18 and older) with chronic heart failure (NYHA II-III). All patients received standard treatment plus either hawthorne (450 mg twice daily) or placebo. Results show no significant differences between the hawthorne group and placebo group in 6MWD, quality of life, functional capacity, neurohormones, oxidative stress, or inflammation. However, a measure of how much blood is being pumped out of the left ventricle of the heart showed a greater benefit for hawthorne. No serious side-effects were reported. (2)
