Can a Modified Fat Diet With Low Glycaemic Load Improve Insulin Sensitivity and Inflammatory Mediators in Overweight People With Chronic Heart Failure?

In overweight patients with chronic heart failure, to compare the effects of a modified fat diet with reduced glycaemic load (diet 1), and a conventional low fat, high carbohydrate diet (diet 2) on: insulin sensitivity (using the HOMA model); lipid profile; symptomatic status ( 6 minute walk distance and heart failure quality of life (HF QOL) questionnaire ); body weight; inflammatory mediators ( Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha, CRP, Interleukin 6 ).

The Hypotheses of this study are: Diet 1 will be associated with lower insulin resistance than diet 2; The lipid profile will be better in CHF patients on diet 1 than diet 2; Patients on diet 1 will have better symptomatic status than patients on diet 2; Diet 1 will maintain body weight in patients with CHF as well as diet 2; Diet 1 will suppress the expression of TNF-alpha, CRP and IL-6 more than diet 2.

Official Title

Can a Modified Fat Diet With Low Glycaemic Load Improve Insulin Sensitivity and Inflammatory Mediators in Overweight People With Chronic Heart Failure?

Conditions

Heart Failure

Study Type

Interventional

Study Design

Educational/Counseling/Training, Randomized, Open Label, Active Control, Parallel Assignment, Efficacy Study

Further Details

• Primary Outcome Measures: BMI; Blood Lipids; Inflammatory mediators; HOMA
• Secondary Outcome Measures: Heart Failure Quality of Life Questionnaire; 6 minute walk test

Study Start

January 2005; Expected completion: September 2005

Eligibility & Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years – 75 Years
• Genders Eligible for Study: Both

Inclusion Criteria:

• English speaking Heart failure patients (NYHA Classes 1 – 3) attending the Alfred Hospital outpatient clinic will be enrolled.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients will be excluded if they are below the healthy weight range (BMI<25kg/m²) or if they are morbidly obese (BMI>35 kg/m²).
• Patients with heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class 4 will be excluded due to their increased risk of developing cachexia.

Total Enrolment

50

Contact Details

Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia

• Fiona J Adams, BSc.GDip.Diet +613 9276 3063 Ext. 3063 f.adams@alfred.org.au
• Rachel M Stoney, BSc.MDiet.PhD +613 9276 3063 Ext. 3063 r.stoney@alfred.org.au