Nutrition and heart failure: impact of drug therapies and management strategies

Undernutrition was a prevalent clinical problem among older adult patients with heart failure in a hospital setting in Northwest Ethiopia

Background

Undernutrition is a frequently noticed medical problem in patients with heart failure. It is caused by poor nutrient intake, malabsorption, systemic inflammation, neurohumoral activation, oxidative stress, and hypermetabolic state. Undernutrition results in a decrease in the quality of life and the survival rate in patients with heart failure. There is a paucity of documentation on undernutrition among patients with heart failure in sub-Saharan African countries. The study aimed to determine the magnitude and associated factors of undernutrition among older adult patients with heart failure in the hospital setting in Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, between 1 June 2021 and 31 October 2021. A consecutive sampling method was used to recruit 262 study subjects. A Mini-nutritional assessment-full form (MNA-FL) Questionnaire was used to extract nutritional information among patients with heart failure. Patients with heart failure, who scored MNA-FL score <17, were declared to have undernutrition. The data were entered into EPI Info version 4.6.0.0 and then exported to SPSS version 26 for analysis. Explanatory variables associated with undernutrition in patients with heart failure were analyzed by applying a logistic regression model. A P-value of <0.05 was used to declare a significant association.

Results

A total of 262 patients with heart failure were included in the study. The mean age (± SD) of the study subjects was 64.6 (± 9.2) years. Hypertensive heart disease (111/262, 42%) was the most common cause of heart failure. Hypertension was the frequently observed comorbid disease. Based on the MNA-FL score for nutritional status, 75 out of 262 (28.6%, 95% CI: 22.9–34.4%) were undernourished (MNA-FL < 17), while 124 out of 262 (47.3%, CI: 41.5–53.1%) were at risk of undernutrition (MNA-FL = 17–23.5). The remaining 63 out of 262 (24.1%, 95% CI: 18.2–29.8%) study subjects were well nourished (MNA-FL > 24). On a multivariate analysis, patients with severe heart failure (New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III/IV) (AOR = 4.287, CI: 2.012–9.134, P-value < 0.001), with a duration of illness of 3–5 years (AOR = 3.225, CI: 1.138–9.137, P-value = 0.028), with a duration of illness of >5 years (AOR = 4.349, CI: 1.592–11.879, P-value = 0.001), presence of comorbidities (AOR = 2.29, CI: 1.06–4.96, P-value = 0.036), who underwent treatment with loop diuretics (AOR = 2.983, CI: 1.407–6.326, P-value = 0.040), and who reside in a rural area (AOR = 5.119, CI: 2.481–10.560, P-value < 0.001) were at risk of developing undernutrition.

Conclusion

Undernutrition was a significant clinical problem in older patients with heart failure. Nutritional interventions should be prioritized for patients with chronic and severe heart failure.

The value of C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio in predicting long-term mortality among HFrEF patients with implantable cardiac defibrillators

BACKGROUND

Patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) who received implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) still remain at high risk due to pump failure and prevalent comorbid conditions. The primary aim of this research was to evaluate the predictive value of C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) for all-cause mortality among patients with HFrEF despite ICD implantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Those who were implanted ICD for HFrEF in our institution between 2009 and 2019 were included. Data were extracted from hospital's database. CAR was calculated as ratio of C-reactive protein (CRP) to serum albumin concentration. Patients were grouped into tertiles in accordance with CAR at the time of the implantation. During follow-up duration of 38 [17-77] months, survival times of tertiles were compared by using Kaplan-Meier survival method. Forward Cox proportional regression model was used for multivariable analysis.

RESULTS

Thousand and eleven patients constituted the study population. Ischaemic cardiomyopathy was the primary diagnosis in 92.3%, and ICD was implanted for the primary prevention among 33.9% of patients. Of those, 14.5% died after the discharge. Patients in tertile 3 (T3) had higher risk of mortality (4.2% vs 11.0% vs 28.5%) compared with those in other tertiles. Multivariable analysis revealed that when patients in T1 were considered as the reference, both those in T2 and those in T3 had independently higher risk of all-cause mortality. This finding was consistent in the unadjusted and adjusted multivariable models.

CONCLUSION

Among patients with HFrEF and ICD, elevated CAR increased the risk of all-cause mortality at long term.

Nutrition as Treatment Modality in Heart Failure

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review aims to discuss recent evidence and controversies regarding nutrition as a treatment modality for heart failure (HF) patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Adequate nutrition is known to promote health-related quality of life by addressing malnutrition and promoting optimal functioning among older adults and has an established role in the prevention of HF; however, evidence is limited on the effects of nutrition as a treatment modality in HF. While guidance of sodium restriction to address fluid overload is an ongoing debate among experts, evidence from case studies and small clinical trials suggest a positive impact of plant-based and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary patterns on HF-related pathophysiology, quality of life, hospital admissions, and mortality. More clinical trials are needed to establish an evidence base to support dietary management strategies for patients with HF. Clinical and Translational Science Alliances (CTSAs) may provide infrastructure to overcome enrollment barriers.

Nutrition intervention in heart failure: should consumption of the DASH eating pattern be recommended to improve outcomes?

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic, systemic disorder that presents a serious and growing public health problem due to its high prevalence, mortality, and cost of care. Due to the aging of the population and medical advances that prolong the life of HF patients, more effective, widespread strategies for improved HF management in this rapidly growing patient population are needed. While the prevalence of malnutrition in HF patients has been well characterized, evidence is limited regarding the effects of specific macro- and micronutrient deficiencies on HF outcomes and their interaction with other aspects of HF management, including pharmacotherapy. There is a mounting appreciation for the effects of nutritional intervention on pathophysiology, treatment, and outcomes in patients with HF. Heart-healthy dietary patterns, such as the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), carry importance for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. While preliminary evidence looks promising regarding effects of DASH eating pattern consumption on ventricular function and 30-day hospitalizations in HF patients, more research is needed to confirm its effects on short-term and long-term HF outcomes while better understand underlying mechanisms in the context of HF pharmacotherapy.

Association between the Prognostic Nutritional Index and Dietary Intake in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Heart Failure: Findings from NHANES III

The objective of this study was to examine the association between nutritional status and dietary intake in community-dwelling older adults with heart failure (HF). A cross-sectional analysis of NHANES III data was conducted. The analytic sample was comprised of n = 445 individuals aged 50+ years with congestive HF (54.4% male, 22.9% non-Hispanic Black, 43.8% low-income). Nutritional status was measured using the Prognostic Nutritional Index (PNI). Participants were classified by PNI quintiles with lower PNI scores indicating lower nutritional status. Participants in quintile 5 showed significantly greater intakes of energy, protein, vegetables, magnesium, zinc, copper, potassium, red meat, saturated fat, and sodium. In multivariate analyses, increased intake of red meat (β = 0.253, p = 0.040) and vegetables (β = 0.255, p = 0.038) was associated with significantly better nutritional status. In the absence of comprehensive nutritional guidance for HF patients, it appears that small increases in energy, protein (red meat), and vegetable consumption are associated with improved nutritional status.

Vitamin C Deficiency, High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein, and Cardiac Event-Free Survival in Patients With Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Vitamin C is related to lower levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), an inflammatory biomarker that predicts cardiovascular disease. Whether vitamin C deficiency is associated with hsCRP and cardiac events in heart failure (HF) patients has not been examined.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to determine the relationships among vitamin C intake, serum levels of hsCRP, and cardiac events.

METHODS

A total of 200 HF patients completed a 3-day food diary to determine vitamin C deficiency and provided blood to measure serum levels of hsCRP. Patients were followed for 2 years to obtain data on cardiac event-free survival. Moderation analyses with hierarchical logistic and Cox regressions were used for the data analysis.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight patients (39%) had vitamin C deficiency and 100 (50%) had an hsCRP level higher than 3 mg/L. Vitamin C deficiency was associated with an hsCRP level higher than 3 mg/L in the hierarchical logistic regression (odds ratio, 2.40; 95% confidence interval, [1.13-5.10]; P = .023). Vitamin C deficiency (hazard ratio, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.05-2.69, P = .029) and hsCRP level higher than 3 mg/L (hazard ratio, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.07-3.01; P = .027) predicted shorter cardiac event-free survival in hierarchical Cox regression. The interaction of hsCRP level higher than 3 mg/L and vitamin C deficiency produced a 2.3-fold higher risk for cardiac events (P = .002) in moderation analysis. Higher level of hsCRP predicted shorter cardiac event-free survival only in patients with vitamin C deficiency (P = .027), but not in those with vitamin C adequacy.

CONCLUSION

Vitamin C deficiency moderated the relationship between inflammation and cardiac events in patients with HF. Future study is required to determine whether adequate intake of vitamin C could play a protective role against the impact of inflammation on cardiac events in HF patients.

Micronutrient Deficiency Independently Predicts Adverse Health Outcomes in Patients With Heart Failure

BACKGROUND

Despite growing evidence on the important role of micronutrients in prognosis of heart failure (HF), there has been limited research that micronutrient deficiency predicts health outcomes in patients with HF.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to determine whether micronutrient deficiency independently predicts adverse health outcomes.

METHODS

A total of 113 consecutive outpatients with HF completed a 3-day food diary to measure intake of 15 micronutrients. The Computer Aided Nutrition Analysis Program for Professionals was used to analyze the food diaries and determine dietary micronutrient deficiencies. Patients completed the Minnesota Living With HF Questionnaire to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and were followed up for 1 year to determine cardiac-related hospitalization or cardiac death. Hierarchical multiple linear regressions and Cox proportional hazard regressions were used to determine whether micronutrient deficiencies predicted health outcomes.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight patients (51%) had at least 3 micronutrient deficiencies (range, 0-14). Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D were the most common micronutrient deficiencies. Micronutrient deficiency was independently associated with worse HRQoL (β = .187, P = .025) in hierarchical multiple linear regression. Thirty-nine patients were hospitalized or died during 1-year follow-up because of cardiac problems. The number of micronutrient deficiencies independently predicted cardiac event-free survival (hazard ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.28).

CONCLUSIONS

These findings show that micronutrient deficiency independently predicted poor HRQoL and earlier cardiac event-free survival in patients with HF. Further research is needed to provide for specific dietary guidelines for better health outcomes in HF patients.

Anorexia, functional capacity, and clinical outcome in patients with chronic heart failure: results from the Studies Investigating Co-morbidities Aggravating Heart Failure (SICA-HF)

Aims

We aimed to assess determinants of anorexia, that is loss of appetite in patients with heart failure (HF) and aimed to further elucidate the association between anorexia, functional capacity, and outcomes in affected patients.

Methods and results

We assessed anorexia status among 166 patients with HF (25 female, 66 ± 12 years) who participated in the Studies Investigating Co‐morbidities Aggravating HF. Anorexia was assessed by a 6‐point Likert scale (ranging from 0 to 5), wherein values ≥1 indicate anorexia. Functional capacity was assessed as peak oxygen uptake (peak VO₂), 6 min walk test, and short physical performance battery test. A total of 57 patients (34%) reported any anorexia, and these patients showed lower values of peak VO₂, 6 min walk distance, and short physical performance battery score (all P < 0.05). Using multivariate analysis adjusting for clinically important factors, only high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein [odds ratio (OR) 1.24, P = 0.04], use of loop diuretics (OR 5.76, P = 0.03), and the presence of cachexia (OR 2.53, P = 0.04) remained independent predictors of anorexia. A total of 22 patients (13%) died during a mean follow‐up of 22.5 ± 5.1 months. Kaplan‐Meier curves for cumulative survival showed that those patients with anorexia presented higher mortality (Log‐rank test P = 0.03).

Conclusions

Inflammation, use of loop diuretics, and cachexia are associated with an increased likelihood of anorexia in patients with HF, and patients with anorexia showed impaired functional capacity and poor outcomes.

Influence of intravenous thiamine supplementation on blood lactate concentration prior to cardiac surgery: A double-blinded, randomised controlled pilot study

BACKGROUND

Stress related to surgery and critical illness depletes thiamine, essential in energy metabolism, and might result in high blood lactate concentrations and higher mortality.

OBJECTIVES

We hypothesised that thiamine supplementation would increase blood concentration of thiamine and reduce blood lactate concentration postoperatively. Moreover, we aimed to identify the prevalence of, and risk factors for, high blood lactate concentrations.

DESIGN

This was a double-blind, randomised controlled pilot study from February to July 2012 including 30 patients scheduled for cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were assigned randomly to receive thiamine (300 mg in 0.9% Normal saline solution) or placebo (0.9% Normal saline) preoperatively.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

One arterial blood sample was taken preoperatively and another postoperatively to measure thiamine concentration, and multiple samples were taken during surgery and ICU stay to determine lactate concentrations. Twenty-four hour urine samples were collected to measure urinary thiamine concentration. Preoperatively, we assessed extracellular mass to body cell mass ratio (ECM/BCM).

RESULTS

The mean (SD) age of the patients was 58 (12) years, 73% were overweight, 10% were malnourished and the prevalence of thiamine deficiency was 10%. Patients in the thiamine group had significantly higher blood thiamine concentrations 2 days postoperatively [805.2 ± 289.8 ng g(-1) haemoglobin (Hb)] than those in the placebo group (591.2 ± 100.7 ng g(-1) Hb, P < 0.01). The mean blood lactate concentration changed significantly over time, but did not differ significantly between the groups. Patients with ECM/BCM more than 1 had higher lactate concentrations on admission to ICU than those with ECM/BCM less than 1 (2.1 ± 0.7 vs. 1.7 ± 0.6, P = 0.09) and were at a significantly greater risk of having a higher lactate concentration on ICU admission [odds ratio (OR) 13.5, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.0 to 179.4, P < 0.05]. On the basis of these results, a sample size calculation for a larger study has been facilitated.

CONCLUSION

Thiamine supplementation caused normalisation of blood and urine concentrations postoperatively but without a significant reduction in lactate concentration or clinical outcome. Body composition played an important role in lactate formation. Further research focusing on preoperative screening and optimal treatment of high lactate concentrations in this specific population is warranted.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01524315.

Malnutrition and associated factors among heart failure patients on follow up at Jimma university specialized hospital, Ethiopia

Background

Malnutrition and cachexia are serious consequences of numerous chronic diseases. Severe heart failure patients could be related with marked weight loss. Malnutrition is associated with poor prognosis among heart failure patients. Despite its implication, factors associated with malnutrition among heart failure patients in Africa and Ethiopia was not addressed. Hence, in this study we tried to determine factors associated with malnutrition among heart failure patients on follow up at Jimma University specialized hospital, Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was done on 284 randomly selected heart failure patients. The nutritional status of the patients was assessed based on their serum albumin level (normal value 4–5 mg/dl) and triceps skin fold thickness. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with malnutrition among heart failure patients using SPSS 20.0.

Results

Based on serum albumin and triceps skin fold thickness, 77.8 % of patients were malnourished. Mean age of the patients was 48.3 ± 15.9 years. The commonest cause of heart failure was ischemic heart disease (34.9 %). Hypertension (36 %) was the commonest co morbid disease. Forty four percent of patients had New York heart association functional class II heart failure. Serum hemoglobin (AOR = 0.77, 95 % CI: 0.67–0.92) was found to be significantly associated with nutritional status of heart failure patients. As serum hemoglobin increases by 1gm/dl, the risk of malnutrition decreased by 15 % (P value = 0.03).

Conclusions

The majority of patients were malnourished. A higher hemoglobin concentration was associated with reduced odds of being malnourished.

Malnutrition and Cachexia in Heart Failure

Heart failure is a growing public health concern. Advanced heart failure is frequently associated with severe muscle wasting, termed cardiac cachexia This process is driven by systemic inflammation and tumor necrosis factor in a manner common to other forms of disease-related wasting seen with cancer or human immunodeficiency virus. A variable degree of malnutrition is often superimposed from poor nutrient intake. Cardiac cachexia significantly decreases quality of life and survival in patients with heart failure. This review outlines the evaluation of nutrition status in heart failure, explores the pathophysiology of cardiac cachexia, and discusses therapeutic interventions targeting wasting in these patients.

The role of micronutrients and macronutrients in patients hospitalized for heart failure

The detrimental pathophysiology of heart failure (HF) leaves room for physiologic and metabolomic concepts that include supplementation of micronutrients and macronutrients in these patients. Hence myocardial energetics and nutrient metabolism may represent relevant treatment targets in HF. This review focuses on the role of nutritive compounds such as lipids, amino acids, antioxidants, and other trace elements in the setting of HF. Supplementation of ferric carboxymaltose improves iron status, functional capacity, and quality of life in HF patients. To close the current gap in evidence further interventional studies investigating the role of micro- and macronutrients are needed in this setting.

Abnormal nutrition affects waitlist mortality in infants awaiting heart transplant

BACKGROUND

Although nutritional status affects survival after heart transplant (HTx) in adults and older children, its effect on outcomes in young children is unknown. This study aimed to assess the effect of pre-HTx nutrition on outcomes in this population.

METHODS

Children aged 0 to 2 years old listed for HTx from 1997 to 2011 were identified from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database. Nutritional status was classified according to percentage of ideal body weight at listing and at HTx. Logistic regression analysis evaluated the risk of waitlist mortality. Cox proportional hazard models assessed the effect of nutrition on post-HTx survival.

RESULTS

Of 1,653 children evaluated, 899 (54%) had normal nutrition at listing, 445 (27%) were mildly wasted, 203 (12%) were moderate or severely wasted, and 106 (6%) had an elevated weight-to-height (W:H) ratio. Moderate or severe wasting (adjusted odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.3-2.7) and elevated W:H (adjusted odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.6) were independent risk factors for waitlist mortality. HTx was performed in 1,167 patients, and 1,016 (87%) survived to 1-year post-HTx. Nutritional status at listing or at HTx was not associated with increased post-HTx mortality. Nutritional status did not affect the need for early reoperation, dialysis, or the incidences of infection, stroke, or rejection before hospital discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Moderate or severe wasting and an elevated W:H are independent risk factors for waitlist mortality in patients aged < 2 years but do not affect post-HTx mortality. Optimization of pre-HTx nutritional status constitutes a strategy to reduce waitlist mortality in this age range.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating pattern in special populations

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) trial showed that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products with reduced total and saturated fat, cholesterol, and sugar-sweetened products effectively lowers blood pressure in individuals with prehypertension and stage I hypertension. Limited evidence is available on the safety and efficacy of the DASH eating pattern in special patient populations that were excluded from the trial. Caution should be exercised before initiating the DASH diet in patients with chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease, and those who are prescribed renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system antagonist, but these conditions are not strict contraindications to DASH. Modifications to the DASH diet may be necessary to facilitate its use in patients with chronic heart failure, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus type II, lactose intolerance, and celiac disease. In general, the DASH diet can be adopted by most patient populations and initiated simultaneously with medication therapy and other lifestyle interventions.

Supplement Use in the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease in the Aging Population

As the elderly population grows, so does the incidence of cardiovascular disease and the use of medications. Because of the side effects and cost of prescribed medicine, many aging individuals are seeking out alternative treatment options. Complementary and alternative medicine is gaining popularity, with about a third of people older than 60 years currently using one or more of these therapies. Many individuals are using herbs and nutritional supplements to prevent and treat a variety of cardiovascular diseases and their symptoms. Herbs and nutritional supplements are considered food by the Food and Drug Administration and are exempt from mandatory testing for their safety or efficacy. Also, many individuals consider these products as natural and do not recognize the negative impact that these alternative treatments may have on the efficacy of prescribed medications and overall health. To date, research has reported conflicting evidence as to the beneficial effects of these products; health care providers should exercise caution in recommending their use to avoid drug interactions and side effects.

The PROTECT in-hospital risk model: 7-day outcome in patients hospitalized with acute heart failure and renal dysfunction

AIMS

In patients with acute heart failure (AHF), early worsening heart failure (WHF) predicts a significant proportion of post-discharge readmissions and mortality. We aimed to identify the predictors of 7-day heart failure events or death in patients hospitalized with AHF.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A predictive model and risk score for the short-term primary composite endpoint of 7-day death, HF rehospitalization, or WHF was created using variables collected within 24 h of admission from patients with complete data (n = 2015) enrolled in the PROTECT trial of AHF patients. The 7-day composite was experienced by 294 patients (14.6%), with a mortality rate of 1.8% (n = 37), HF rehospitalization rate of 0.5% (n = 9), and WHF rate of 13.1% (n = 264). In multivariable analyses, the strongest predictor of short-term morbidity and mortality was higher blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration. Additional independent predictors of a worse outcome were lower serum albumin, cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure, as well as higher heart rate and respiratory rate. Model coefficients were converted to an additive risk score for predicting the 7-day composite endpoint with a total point range of 0-100. The risk score allowed discrimination of a wide spectrum of risk (4.8% risk with score ≤35, to 28.7% risk with score >55).

CONCLUSIONS

Using the PROTECT 7-day risk model and score, the main determinants of an adverse outcome for AHF patients included impaired metabolic status, neurohormonal activation, and reduced cardiac performance, gauged by BUN, serum albumin and cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure, heart rate, and respiratory rate.

The role of B vitamins in the management of heart failure

Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries, creating a significant burden on both the healthcare system and quality of life. Research efforts continue to explore new pharmaceutical or surgically based approaches to HF management, but the role of nutrition as an adjunct therapy has been largely ignored. Elderly age, anorexia, malabsorption, premature satiety, and disease severity are among the factors identified as contributing to reduced nutrient intakes in patients with HF. These factors suggest that patients with HF are at increased risk of multiple-nutrient deficiencies, including B vitamins. B vitamins may be of particular therapeutic interest because of their key roles as cofactors in energy-producing pathways. Recently, impaired stores of high-energy compounds have been linked with myocardial dysfunction and prognosis in patients with HF. Therefore, deficiencies of B vitamins might contribute to reduced energy stores and disease progression. This review summarizes the existing literature both with respect to the prevalence of B vitamin deficiency as well as evidence from supplementation trials in patients with HF. The findings suggest that most of the literature in this area has focused on thiamin deficiency in patients with HF, whereas other B vitamins remain largely unstudied. Although few sporadic trials suggest a role for B vitamins in the management of HF, none are conclusive. Therefore, there is a need for larger, more robust trials to assist in defining the B vitamin requirements as well as the impact of supplementation on both morbidity and mortality in patients with HF.

Thiamine in nutrition therapy

Clinicians involved with nutrition therapy traditionally concentrated on macronutrients and have generally neglected the importance of micronutrients, both vitamins and trace elements. Micronutrients, which work in unison, are important for fundamental biological processes and enzymatic reactions, and deficiencies may lead to disastrous consequences. This review concentrates on vitamin B(1), or thiamine. Alcoholism is not the only risk factor for thiamine deficiency, and thiamine deficiency is often not suspected in seemingly well-nourished or even overnourished patients. Deficiency of thiamine has historically been described as beriberi but may often be seen in current-day practice, manifesting as neurologic abnormalities, mental changes, congestive heart failure, unexplained metabolic acidosis, and so on. This review explains the importance of thiamine in nutrition therapy and offers practical tips on prevention and management of deficiency states.

Thiamine supplementation in the critically ill

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To summarize the properties of thiamine and evaluate current evidence on thiamine status and supplementation, for different populations of critically ill patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Thiamine, in the form of thiamine pyrophosphate, is a critical co-factor in the glyocolysis and oxidative decarboxylation of carbohydrates for energy production. Different studies have shown that critical illness in adults and children is characterized by absolute or relative thiamine depletion, which is associated with an almost 50% increase in mortality. Thiamine deficiency should be suspected in different clinical scenarios such as severe sepsis, burns, unexplained heart failure or lactic acidosis, neurological disorder in patients with previous history of alcoholism, starvation, chronic malnutrition, long-term parenteral feeding, hyperemesis gravidarum, or bariatric surgery. Nonetheless, thiamine supplements are not routinely given to critically ill patients. Clinicians should be able to suspect and recognize risk factors for the occurrence of severe neurological disorders secondary to thiamine deficiency, as early treatment can prevent the appearance of permanent neurological damage.

SUMMARY

Symptoms and signs associated with thiamine deficiency lack sensitivity and specificity in critically ill patients. Consequently, depletion is frequently unrecognized and underdiagnosed by clinicians. Potentially deleterious consequences of thiamine depletion should be avoided by early and appropriate supplementation.

Concomitant use of prescription medications and dietary supplements in menopausal women: an approach to provider preparedness

Dietary supplements are becoming increasingly popular as therapies for symptom relief among menopause-age women in the United States. However, a large gap exists between research in the concomitant use of prescription medications and dietary supplements and provider preparedness to guide patient decision making. Many menopausal women take prescription medications, over the counter medications, and herbs and dietary supplements for climactic symptoms or other health conditions. With any drug, there is the potential for interactions. Women taking medications with a narrow therapeutic index, such as anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, and drugs for the treatment of chronic diseases, are at particular risk. Patients should be queried regarding their use of dietary supplements when starting or stopping a prescription drug, or if unexpected reactions occur. When counseling patients, one must carefully consider the risks and benefits of each supplement and medication being taken by each individual.

The dietary quality of persons with heart failure in NHANES 1999-2006

BACKGROUND

Dietary quality may impact heart failure outcomes. However, the current status of the dietary quality of persons with heart failure has not been previously reported.

OBJECTIVE

To describe sodium intake, patient factors associated with sodium intake and overall dietary quality in a national sample of persons with heart failure.

DESIGN

Analysis of repeated cross-sectional probability sample surveys using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) of 1999-2000, 2001-2002, 2003-2004 and 2005-2006.

PARTICIPANTS

The study sample consisted of 574 persons with self-reported heart failure (mean age = 70 years; 52% women).

MEASUREMENTS

Diet of each survey participant was assessed using single 24 hour recall. Dietary nutrients of interest included sodium, the mainstay of heart failure dietary recommendations, and additionally potassium, calcium, magnesium, fish oils, saturated fat and fiber. Specific dietary goals were based on established guidelines.

RESULTS

Mean sodium intake was 2,719 mg, with 34% consuming less than 2,000 mg per day. Patient factors associated with greater sodium intake included male gender, lower education, lower income and no reported diagnosis of hypertension. Mean potassium intake was 2,367 mg/day, with no differences by type of diuretic used or renal disease status. Adherence rates to established guidelines for other nutrients were 13% for calcium, 10% for magnesium, 2% for fish oils, 13% for saturated fat and 4% for fiber.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary quality of persons with self-reported heart failure was poor. Public health approaches and clinical dietary interventions are needed for persons with this increasingly prevalent clinical syndrome.

Nutrition in heart failure: an update

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is increasingly recognized as a multisystem disease with important comorbidities such as anemia, insulin resistance, autonomic dysbalance, or cardiac cachexia.

RECENT FINDINGS

Apart from these perturbations, increasing evidence points to alterations in intestinal morphology, permeability, and absorption function in patients with CHF. This review provides an overview of the sonographic, histological, and functional abnormalities of different gastrointestinal regions. This intestinal dysfunction and disturbed intestinal barrier may lead to both the chronic inflammatory state and catabolic/anabolic imbalance as seen in cardiac cachexia, as a terminal stage of CHF, which carries a particularly poor prognosis. This review highlights the current knowledge of nutritional abnormalities that may occur in CHF, including fat, carbohydrates, proteins, water, and micronutrients. The regulation of feeding is discussed, as are nutritional strategies with potentially anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of CHF.

SUMMARY

The gut and its role for inflammation and dietary interventions in heart failure patients are a crucial target of further heart failure research.