Professor John G.F. Cleland, F.A.C.C., from the University of Hull in Hull, U.K, who was not connected with this study, said that there are many reasons for heart failure patients to have difficulties maintaining proper nutrition, so it is surprising that so little attention has been paid to nutrition in heart failure.
"Patients with advanced heart failure commonly suffer from cardiac cachexia, but little is known about the mechanisms underlying this problem or how to treat it. Deficiency in one dietary component, such as thiamin, is unlikely to occur in isolation and might be a marker for shortages of other micronutrients. Recent research suggests that targeted multi-micronutrient supplementation may improve quality of life and left ventricular function in elderly patients with heart failure," Dr. Cleland said.
Jill Kalman, M.D. from the NYU Medical Center in New York, N.Y., who also was not connected with this study, said the results help point the way toward improving care for heart failure patients.
"If we can start to point out where there are certain metabolic deficiencies in heart failure, learn where we can replace them in an effective and safe fashion, and make a difference eventually in terms of outcomes, I think that's where this is an important article," Dr. Kalman said.
Dr. Kalman said that it is also important to find out whether any heart failure treatments may be causing metabolic deficiencies.
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Contact: Amy Murphy
amurphy@acc.org
301-581-3476
American College of Cardiology
13-Jan-2006