Key result
Oral branched-chain amino acids increased serum albumin by 0.44 g/dL from baseline in heart failure patients with hypoalbuminemia, although this change was not significantly different from the control group.
Why the study?
Does oral branched-chain amino acid supplementation improve serum albumin and cardiothoracic ratio in hospitalized heart failure patients with hypoalbuminemia?
RCT (n=18)
Open-label
Stratified according to serum albumin of 2.8 g/dL and an age of 75 years
Yes
Does oral branched-chain amino acid supplementation improve serum albumin and cardiothoracic ratio in hospitalized heart failure patients with hypoalbuminemia?
Mean Difference: 0.44 (95% CI 0.13–0.76)
Absolute Event Rate: 0.44% vs 0.18%
p-value: p=0.014
Oral BCAA supplementation may improve serum albumin levels and reduce cardiothoracic ratio in hospitalized heart failure patients with hypoalbuminemia.
BCAA supplementation may raise albumin in hypoalbuminemic HF; leaves open outcome benefits in larger trials.
BACKGROUND: We conducted a randomized, controlled trial to determine whether supplementation with oral branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) improves serum albumin and clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients with hypoalbuminemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: ) for 28 days during their hospital stay or until discharge (BCAA group; N = 9) or to receive no supplementation (controls; N = 9), in addition to recommended HF therapy. The primary endpoints were changes from baseline in serum albumin and cardiothoracic ratio (CTR). Sixteen patients completed the study. The mean (± standard deviation) period of BCAA supplementation was 18.4 ± 8.4 days. Serum albumin significantly increased in the BCAA group [mean difference vs baseline, 0.44 g/dL; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13-0.76; P = 0.014] and did not change in controls (0.18 g/dL; 95% CI - 0.05 to 0.40; P = 0.108). CTR significantly decreased in the BCAA group (- 2.3%; 95% CI - 3.8 to - 0.8; P = 0.014) and did not change in controls (- 1.0%; 95% CI - 2.3 to 0.3; P = 0.111). CONCLUSION: In-hospital HF patients with hypoalbuminemia supplemented with BCAAs showed increased serum albumin and decreased CTR. Clinical trial registration number UMIN000004488 [ http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm ].
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Uchino et al. (2018) conducted an RCT in Heart failure with hypoalbuminemia (n=18). Oral branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) vs. No supplementation (recommended HF therapy) was evaluated on Change from baseline in serum albumin (MD 0.44, 95% CI 0.13-0.76, p=0.014). Oral branched-chain amino acids increased serum albumin by 0.44 g/dL from baseline in heart failure patients with hypoalbuminemia, although this change was not significantly different from the control group.
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