Amino acids and derivatives, a new treatment of chronic heart failure?

Heart Fail Rev. 2015 Jan;20(1):39-51. doi: 10.1007/s10741-014-9436-9.

Abstract

Amino acids play a key role in multiple cellular processes. Amino acids availability is reduced in patients with heart failure (HF) with deleterious consequences on cardiac and whole-body metabolism. Several metabolic abnormalities have been identified in the failing heart, and many of them lead to an increased need of amino acids. Recently, several clinical trials have been conducted to demonstrate the benefits of amino acids supplementation in patients with HF. Although they have shown an improvement of exercise tolerance and, in some cases, of left ventricular function, they have many limitations, namely small sample size, differences in patients' characteristics and nutritional supplementations, and lack of data regarding outcomes. Moreover recent data suggest that a multi-nutritional approach, including also antioxidants, vitamins, and metals, may be more effective. Larger trials are needed to ascertain safety, efficacy, and impact on prognosis of such an approach in HF.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amino Acids / metabolism*
  • Amino Acids / therapeutic use*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Exercise Tolerance / physiology
  • Heart Failure / drug therapy*
  • Heart Failure / physiopathology*
  • Humans

Substances

  • Amino Acids