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Modulation of inflammasome components in patients with heart failure using oral nutritional supplements: investigating the molecular mechanisms beyond the clinical benefit

Herrera-Martínez AD, Hermán-Sánchez N, G-García ME, Muñoz-Jiménez C, Pérez-Gómez JM, Montero-Hidalgo AJ, López-Aguilera J, González-Manzanares R et al.

European journal of nutrition, 2026

38 participants · 1 citation

Abstract

PURPOSE: Inflammation is a key contributor to the pathogenesis and progression of heart failure (HF), correlating with increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the molecular impact of a 24-week nutritional intervention on inflammasome-related components in HF patients, comparing a Mediterranean diet alone versus the same diet supplemented with hypercaloric, high-protein oral nutritional supplements (ONS) enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In a cohort of 38 patients, expression levels of inflammasome markers were assessed via microfluidic quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells at baseline and post-intervention. RESULTS: Some components, especially cytokines and apoptosis regulation components are overexpressed in patients with sarcopenia (NLRP1, NLRC4, CASP1, CASP5, CTSL, IFI16, TLR8, PSXR7, CCR1, CHUCK, MAPK14, CDKN1B). We observed a significant downregulation of Nod-like receptors NLRP12 and NLRP6, along with decreased expression of inflammasome activation components CASP5, TLR2, and TLR9 in the intervention group (p < 0.05). Additionally, cytokines and inflammation-related molecules such as CXCR1, CXCR2, TGFB, CCL2, and NF-κB showed reduced expression, while the inhibitor CHUCK increased (p < 0.05). Cell cycle regulators also shifted, with decreased CDKN2D expression (p < 0.05), suggesting potential effects on cellular senescence and DNA repair pathways. Notably, these…

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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.

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