A defined, plant-based diet as a potential therapeutic approach in the treatment of heart failure: A clinical case series.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a defined plant-based diet could improve cardiac function and morphology in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) when used as an adjunct to standard medical treatment.
Results Summary
The study found significant improvements in cardiac function, including a 92% increase in ejection fraction, 21% reduction in left ventricular mass, and 62% increase in stroke volume. Patients also reported subjective clinical improvements such as reduced angina, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
Population
Three patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF).
Effective Dosage
Not specified (only described as a "defined plant-based diet").
Duration
Approximately 79 days on average.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
plant-based diets | increase | plasma lipid concentrations | - | - | are known to improve | #1 |
plant-based diets | decrease | blood pressure | - | - | reduce | #2 |
plant-based diets as part of a lifestyle intervention | decrease | atherosclerotic lesions | - | - | lead to the regression of | #3 |
a defined plant-based diet as an adjunct to standard medical treatment | increase | ejection fraction | Three patients diagnosed with CHF | 92% | revealed a 92% increase in | #4 |
a defined plant-based diet as an adjunct to standard medical treatment | decrease | left ventricular mass | Three patients diagnosed with CHF | 21% | revealed a 21% reduction in | #5 |
a defined plant-based diet as an adjunct to standard medical treatment | increase | stroke volume | Three patients diagnosed with CHF | 62% | revealed a 62% increase in | #6 |
a defined plant-based diet as an adjunct to standard medical treatment | increase | cardiac output | Three patients diagnosed with CHF | 17% | revealed a 17% increase in | #7 |
the dietary intervention | decrease | 90-95% ostial stenosis of the left anterior descending artery | patient 1 | nearly completely | nearly completely regressed | #8 |
a defined plant-based diet as an adjunct to standard medical treatment | decrease | angina | All patients | less | reported significant clinical improvements, including less | #9 |
a defined plant-based diet as an adjunct to standard medical treatment | decrease | shortness of breath | All patients | less | reported significant clinical improvements, including less | #10 |
a defined plant-based diet as an adjunct to standard medical treatment | decrease | fatigue | All patients | less | reported significant clinical improvements, including less | #11 |
a defined plant-based diet as an adjunct treatment | decrease | cardiac morphological and functional abnormalities | in the setting of CHF | - | may contribute to the reversal of | #12 |
BACKGROUND: Individuals diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) have a 50% five-year mortality rate and approximately 650,000 new cases of CHF are diagnosed annually. Plant-based diets are known to improve plasma lipid concentrations, reduce blood pressure, and as part of a lifestyle intervention, lead to the regression of atherosclerotic lesions. However, a paucity of data exists with regards to plant-based diets in the treatment of CHF. METHODS: Three patients diagnosed with CHF opted to undergo a dietary intervention consisting of a defined plant-based diet as an adjunct to standard medical treatment for CHF. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed. Patients' consumed the defined plant-based diet for an average of ˜79 days. RESULTS: Follow-up cardiac magnetic resonance images revealed a 92% increase in ejection fraction [mean ± standard deviation for all data] (22.0 ± 6.9% vs 42.2 ± 18.4%), 21% reduction in left ventricular mass (214 ± 90 g vs 170 ± 102 g), 62% increase in stroke volume (55.8 ± 24.3 cc vs 90.3 ± 30.6 cc) and a 17% increase in cardiac output (3.6 ± 1.2 L/min vs 4.2 ± 1.6 L/min). In patient 1, 90-95% ostial stenosis of the left anterior descending artery nearly completely regressed following the dietary intervention. All patients subjectively reported significant clinical improvements, including less angina, shortness of breath and fatigue. CONCLUSION: As an adjunct treatment, a defined plant-based diet may contribute to the reversal of cardiac morphological and functional abnormalities in the setting of CHF.