Heart medication best at bedtime, study reveals (Canada)

When doctors give heart drugs to patients, the time of day can make a big difference, according to new research by University of Guelph scientists. Many doctors prefer to give heart drugs to patients in the morning. But the study revealed that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors – commonly given to patients with high blood pressure or after a heart attack or during heart failure – improve heart structure and function when given at sleep time. In fact, when administered during wake time, ACE inhibitors are no more effective than a placebo, the study found. The research was conducted on mice with high blood pressure. Guelph professors Tami Martino, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Jeremy Simpson, Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences and Nazneen Tata conducted the study in the laboratory of Dr. Michael Sole at the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and the Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Toronto. The study will appear May 17 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology