title: Nutritional intake and oxidative stress in chronic heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) are known to be at risk of malnutrition, and cardiac cachexia is an adverse prognostic indicator. The aim of this study was to determine the dietary adequacy of CHF patients compared with Dietary Reference Values, to compare the nutritional intake and status of CHF patients to a healthy comparison group, and finally to determine whether nutritional intake and status depended on New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with CHF (n = 39) and a comparison group of 27 healthy participants, who did not have CHF, were asked to complete a four-day food diary, and energy and nutrient intakes were calculated. F(2α)-isoprostanes were measured in urine as an indicator of oxidative stress and antioxidants were measured in serum or plasma. Overall 73% of the CHF patients were consuming less than recommended energy intakes, and more than 50% of these patients were also consuming less than recommended vitamin D, selenium and zinc intakes. Nutrient intake (energy, vitamin B6, D, E, iron, folate and riboflavin) was lower in CHF patients than in the comparison group, with vitamin B6 and folate intake and antioxidant status decreasing, and isoprostane status increasing as NYHA functional class increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of CHF patients do not meet dietary reference values for energy and a range of nutrients, and nutrient intake is lower in CHF patients than in healthy individuals. Dietary inadequacy tends to be increased in those with more severe disease.
authors.affiliation: Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Grosvenor Road, Belfast, BT12 6BA Northern Ireland, UK.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Woodside
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McGartland
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Nicholls
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: McKeown
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D025101:Vitamin B 6 / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D025101:Vitamin B 6; D005492:Folic Acid