The effects of a high-caloric protein-rich oral nutritional supplement in patients with chronic heart failure and cachexia on quality of life, body composition, and inflammation markers: a randomized, double-blind pilot study.

ABSTRACT: The prevalence of cardiac cachexia in chronic heart failure is approximately 5% to 15% and 18-month mortality rates can reach 50%. Treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and beta-blockers may confer some benefit but no proven therapy exists. We tested the effects of an oral nutritional supplement in cachectic patients with heart failure. This was a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study which randomized 29 patients to a high-caloric (600 kcal) high-protein (20 g) oral nutritional supplement or placebo for a duration of 6 weeks in addition to the patients' usual food intake. At baseline, 6 weeks, and 18 weeks, we measured body weight, quality of life, body composition, heart function, laboratory parameters, and exercise performance. Edema-free body weight increased in 19 of 20 patients receiving intervention at 6 weeks and in 17 of 19 patients at 18 weeks with an average weight gain of 2.0?±?1.7 kg (3.1?±?2.4%, p?=?0.0001) and 2.3?±?3.1 kg (3.6?±?4.7%, p?=?0.007) at 6 and 18 weeks, respectively. Most of the weight gain was fat tissue with an absolute gain of 1.5?±?1.7 kg (p?=?0.003) and 1.6?±?2.7 kg (p?=?0.008). A significant improvement in quality of life and decrease in serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-? were observed (p?

SUBMITTER: Rozentryt P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3060643 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature