In a new study, researchers found that eating food high in fiber may benefit people with heart failure.
They found that heart failure patients who eat more dietary fiber tend to have healthier gut bacteria, which is linked to a lower risk of death or need of a heart transplant.
The research was conducted by a team from Oslo University Hospital in Norway.
Human gut microbiota is composed of trillions of microorganisms that may affect health.
Previous research has reported reduced biodiversity of microbes in the gut of heart failure patients.
In the study, the team found that this condition is related to low fiber intake.
They examined 84 well-treated patients with chronic heart failure and 266 healthy people.
They found that heart failure patients had lower biodiversity of intestinal microbes than healthy people.
In addition, patients who had a heart transplant or died had lower biodiversity in their gut than healthy people.
A diary analysis showed that bacterial diversity was linked to fiber intake.
The team also found that many people with heart failure ate lots of meat and had higher levels of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO).
Previous research has shown that increased TMAO levels are linked to a greater risk of heart attack and stroke.
The findings suggest that the changed gut microbiota composition in patients with chronic heart failure may be linked to low fiber intake.
The team suggests that patients with heart failure to limit their meat intake to two to three times a week while increasing their fiber intake.
Foods high in fiber include cereals, fruits, and vegetables. They can help stimulate a healthy gut flora.
The lead author of the study is Dr. Cristiane Mayerhofer.
The study was presented at Heart Failure 2019, a scientific congress of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
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