Nutritional Therapy Interventions in Heart Failure

Heart failure develops when cardiac muscle becomes weakened and consequently is compromised in its ability to contract, relax, or both. Impaired heart function leads to reduced exercise capacity, which in turn leads to progressive muscle weakness and a vicious cycle of sedentary behavior, weight gain, and subsequent development of metabolic abnormalities and sarcopenia. Approximately 6-10% of individuals over the age of 65 suffer from heart failure, and the risk of death is 35% in the first year after diagnosis. In addition, there is a wide range of potential causes of heart failure, including the natural process of aging. Regardless of the specific underlying cause, there are common pathophysiological responses such as impaired exercise capacity, shortness of breath, fatigue and muscle strength, leading to decreased physical function. Moreover, some long-term consequences of reduced exercise tolerance and malabsorption in long-standing heart failure are loss of muscle mass and the development of cardiac cachexia, resulted in progression of sarcopenia. As protein and amino acid supplements are known to prevent loss of muscle mass or maintain muscle mass in alder individuals, in a pilot study 18 overweight/obese subjects with heart failure (all exceeded 40% body fat) were studied. Nine subjects received 12 weeks of dietary supplementation with 20 g of whey protein consumed daily, while the other nine were controls. The findings showed that supplementation with whey protein failed to improve functional performance as well as a limited stimulation of muscle protein synthesis. The lack of a demonstrable effect of whey protein is consistent with the diminished responsiveness to the stimulation of muscle protein synthesis. In contrast, a 2016 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) pilot study found that the essential amino acid (EAA) mixture is better at overcoming anabolic resistance than Ensure Heart Health. In this study we will perform a randomized clinical trial of a commercially produced nutritional supplement as compared to a placebo in order to determine effects on physical function and health-related quality of life. Subjects will ingest either the EAA mixture product or placebo every day for 12 consecutive weeks. Outcomes will be determined by comparing the results of physical and functional tests from weeks -1 to 6 and 12.