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	Search Quick Order Form» Departments Vitamins Minerals Supplements Herbs Home & Grocery Diet & Fitness Body & Bath More Ways to Shop Brands A-Z Natural Remedies Children & Infants Women's Health Men's Health Seniors Newsletter Sign Up Weekly health news, sale announcements and coupons!		Library Home > Health Concerns > Mitral Valve Prolapse MITRAL VALVE PROLAPSE Introduction Checklist Symptoms Treatments Dietary changes Lifestyle changes Supplements References View Our Related Product Sections: Magnesium The mitral valve is one of the four valves separating chambers of the heart. Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common and occasionally serious condition in which the cusp or cusps of the mitral valve bulge into one of the heart chambers during the heart’s contraction. This bulging is caused by abnormalities in the valve’s structure. When serious, mitral valve prolapse may progress to mitral regurgitation, where the incompetent valve can no longer keep blood from leaking backwards into the wrong chamber of the heart. Checklist for Mitral Valve Prolapse Rating Nutritional Supplements Herbs Magnesium   L-carnitine   Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit. Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit. An herb is primarily supported by traditional use, or the herb or supplement has little scientific support and/or minimal health benefit. What are the symptoms of mitral valve prolapse? Most people with MVP experience no symptoms. Some may experience difficulty breathing during exertion or when lying down, tremor, fatigue, lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting. Some develop dull chest pain, palpitations (awareness of the heartbeat), anxiety, and other symptoms associated with the “fight or flight” response. When MVP causes these symptoms, it is referred to as dysautonomia syndrome. How is it treated? There is no cure for MVP; however, medications such as beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol), blood thinners (e.g., aspirin, warfarin), and antibiotics (to prevent infection and inflammation of the heart’s inner lining) may be prescribed. In serious cases, surgery to repair the affected heart valve may be recommended. Dietary changes that may be helpful: In people who have dysautonomia, low salt intake may be part of the problem. Therefore, unless there is another health problem (such as high blood pressure) that is worsened by high salt intake, people with MVP should not restrict the amount of salt in the diet.1 Lifestyle changes that may be helpful: People with dysautonomia symptoms should avoid stressful situations and should work on techniques for coping with stress. Nutritional supplements that may be helpful: Magnesium deficiency has been proposed as one cause of the symptoms that occur in association with MVP.2 In a study of people with severe MVP symptoms, blood levels of magnesium were low in 60% of cases. Those people with low magnesium levels participated in a double-blind trial, in which they received a placebo or magnesium (500 mg per day for one week, then about 335 mg per day for four weeks). People receiving magnesium experienced a significant reduction in symptoms of weakness, chest pain, anxiety, shortness of breath, and palpitations.3 In one report, deficient levels of L-carnitine were found in five consecutive people with MVP.4 One of these people was given L-carnitine (1 gram three times per day for four months) and experienced a complete resolution of the symptoms associated with MVP. Are there any side effects or interactions? Refer to the individual supplement for information about any side effects or interactions. References: 1. Frederickson L. Confronting Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome. New York: Warner Books, 1992. 2. Galland LD, Baker SM, McLellan RK. Magnesium deficiency in the pathogenesis of mitral valve prolapse. Magnesium 1986;5:165–74. 3. Lichodziejewska B, Klos J, Rezler J, et al. Clinical symptoms of mitral valve prolapse are related to hypomagnesemia and attenuated by magnesium supplementation. Am J Cardiol 1997;79:768–72. 4. Trivellato M, de Palo E, Gatti R, et al. Carnitine deficiency as the possible etiology of idiopathic mitral valve prolapse: case study with speculative annotation. Texas Heart Inst J 1984;11:370–6. Copyright © 2002 Healthnotes, Inc.  All rights

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