Key result
Protein supplementation combined with light exercise significantly improved 6-minute walk distance (change of 36.63 m vs -9.55 m, p<0.05) compared to control in obese older adults with HFpEF.
Why the study?
The effect of a high-quality protein supplement, with or without a structured exercise program, had not been investigated in HFpEF patients.
Does protein supplementation with or without exercise improve physical performance in obese elderly patients with HFpEF?
RCT (n=23)
Open-label
Randomized into three groups
No
Does protein supplementation with or without exercise improve physical performance in obese elderly patients with HFpEF?
Absolute Event Rate: 36.63% vs -9.55%
p-value: p=<0.05
A combination of protein supplementation and light exercise may improve functional capacity in obese elderly patients with HFpEF, warranting larger trials.
Supports combined protein and light exercise for functional gains in obese elderly HFpEF; extends evidence for multimodal therapy but requires larger trials.
Approximately half of heart failure patients in the US have heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HFpEF impairs physical performance and thus reduces quality of life. Increasing dietary protein intake can increase lean body mass and physical performance in healthy elderly individuals, but the effect of a high-quality protein supplement, with or without a structured exercise program, has not been investigated in HFpEF patients. Twenty-three obese elderly HFpEF patients with grade 1 or 2 diastolic dysfunction were randomized into three groups: control, protein supplementation alone, and protein plus exercise. Protein supplementation involved providing sufficient whey protein so that total intake was 1.2 g protein/kg/day. The exercise intervention was 2 days of hydrotherapy and 1 day of gym sessions per week under supervision of a fitness expert. Physical parameters and functional tests were performed at baseline and at 12 weeks. Protein supplementation alone failed to improve physical performance. However, when combined with light exercise, there was significant improvement in some (6-minute walk, 10 m walking speed, quadriceps strength), but not all, physical function measurements. The results of this pilot study suggest that further exploration of potential interactive effects between protein supplementation and light exercise in individuals with HFpEF is warranted.
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Azhar et al. (2020) conducted an RCT in Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) (n=23). Protein supplementation and exercise vs. Control (no intervention) or Protein supplementation alone was evaluated on Change in 6-minute walk test distance at 12 weeks (meters) (p=<0.05). Protein supplementation combined with light exercise significantly improved 6-minute walk distance (change of 36.63 m vs -9.55 m, p<0.05) compared to control in obese older adults with HFpEF.
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