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Metabolomic Lipid Profile Changes in Patients with Heart Failure Undergoing Oral Nutritional Supplements Enriched with the Omega-3 (n-3) Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Mediterranean Diet

Herrera-Martínez AD, Muñoz Jiménez C, López Aguilera J, Crespin M, Gálvez Moreno MÁ, Molina Puerta MJ

Nutrients, 2026

38 participants

Abstract

Chronic inflammation and metabolic dysregulation of heart failure (HF) often result in sarcopenia. The combined effect of Mediterranean diet (MD) and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the advanced lipidomic profile of HF patients remains poorly defined.

Objective: Our objective was to analyze the specific effects of a MD plus omega-3-enriched oral nutritional supplements (MD+ONS) versus MD alone on the metabolic lipid profile of patients with HF, stratified by sarcopenia status.

Methods: In this prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial, 38 patients with HF were assigned to MD alone or MD+ONS (24 weeks). Advanced lipoprotein profiling (triglycerides, cholesterol, particle size, and concentration for VLDL, LDL, and HDL subclasses) was performed using 2D 1H-NMR spectroscopy.

Results: At baseline, NT-proBNP levels correlated positively with ω6/ω7ω9 fatty acids and IDL-TG (p p p p p p p p p < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in structural lipids or total fatty acid families.

Conclusions: MD+ONS induces lipidomic shifts that are significantly modulated by baseline sarcopenia. The intervention appears to stabilize VLDL and IDL levels in patients with sarcopenia compared to diet alone, while promoting a more favorable VLDL reduction in individuals without sarcopenia, suggesting that early nutritional support for improving body composition is a critical determinant of the metabolic response to specific interventions in patients with HF.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design. Reported size: 38 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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