A defined, plant-based diet as a potential therapeutic approach in the treatment of heart failure: A clinical case series.

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.