Dietary guidance in heart failure: a perspective on needs for prevention and management

The role that dietary factors play in preventing heart failure (HF) and in improving prognosis is increasingly recognized, indicating a need for well-grounded guidelines that can provide recommendations for daily nutrient intakes. At present, however, the state of dietary guidance is more satisfactory for persons at risk of HF (Stages A and B) than for those with a diagnosis of HF (Stages C and D). For individuals at risk of HF, a good starting point is provided by governmental and professional society guidance directed at dietary management of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. These dietary recommendations are consonant with epidemiologic research suggesting that improving risk factor profiles likely will lower the risk of developing HF. For patients with diagnosed HF, however, little information is available to define optimal nutrient intakes and optimal food patterns. Dietary services have been shown useful in improving clinical outcomes, but nutritional management must be individualized to the patient's needs and must accommodate pharmacologic therapy, multiple co-morbidities, the possible need for nutritional supplements, repeated hospitalizations, salt and fluid retention, voluntary vs. involuntary weight loss, and other nutritional issues relevant to the aged population who comprise the majority of HF patients. Progress in the field will require well-designed clinical investigations addressing nutrient intake, nutrient metabolism, and nutritional status while mindful of the complex pathophysiology of HF.