Nutrition and cardiomyopathy: lessons from spontaneous animal models.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17521500
Curr Heart Fail Rep. 2007 Jun;4(2):84-90.
Nutrition and cardiomyopathy: lessons from spontaneous animal models.

Freeman LM, Rush JE.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA. [e-mail]
Abstract

Spontaneously occurring dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats are common diseases and are vastly underutilized as models of human cardiac disease. The goals of nutrition are no longer limited to a low-sodium diet, as research is now showing that nutrients can modulate disease and be an important adjunct to medical therapy. Deficiencies of certain nutrients can contribute to cardiomyopathies, as with taurine, but some nutrients-such as n-3 fatty acids, carnitine, and antioxidants-may have specific pharmacologic benefits. Dogs and cats with spontaneous cardiomyopathies are an exciting and promising model for studying nutritional modulation of cardiac disease.

PMID: 17521500


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9842116
Interventional nutrition for cardiac disease.

Freeman LM.

Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
Abstract

Animals with cardiac disease can have a variety of nutritional alterations for which interventional nutrition can be beneficial. Deviation from optimal body weight, both obesity and cachexia, is a common problem in cardiac patients and adversely affects the animal. Methods for maintaining optimal weight are important for good quality of life in dogs and cats with cardiac disease. Providing proper diets to prevent excess intake of sodium and chloride also is important, but severe salt restriction may not be necessary until later stages of disease. Certain nutrient deficiencies may play a role in the pathogenesis or complications of cardiac disease, but nutrients also may have effects on cardiac disease which are above and beyond their nutritional effects (nutritional pharmacology).

Supplementation of nutrients such as taurine, carnitine, coenzyme Q10, and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may have benefits in dogs or cats with cardiac disease through a number of different mechanisms. By addressing each of these areas maintaining optimal weight, avoiding nutritional deficiencies and excesses, and providing the benefits of nutritional pharmacology, optimal patient management can be achieved.

PMID: 9842116

[LiberalEsto]

1. And this eventually means better pet food

which we can enjoy when we're old and there's no more Social Security.

:woohoo:

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Your glass is truly half full and that's a good thing. n/t

[grasswire]

3. I've proved this with my own cat

Diagnosed almost three years ago with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and nearly died. Emergency clinic wanted me to pay $4200 up front for treatment. Told me the prognosis was very poor. When they were assured that I could not pay for that level of care, they aspirated fluid from his chest and sent him home with me. Next day, my vet started him on lasix and atenolol. He did not tolerate the atenolol. I realized that coQ10 was part of the human regimen for cardiomyopathy and started kitty on 20 mg qod. (I knew from my own experience taking coQ10 that it can make a dramatic improvement in cardiac status.)

Nearly three years later, at sixteen years of age, kitty has outlived the prognosis and had good years. The last month or so he has been slowing down a bit. Still himself, still eating and drinking and peeing and alert and cranky at the dog.

So even as they study supplements in cats to see how they can apply to humans, I'm here to tell ya that I'm a believer.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

4. When physicians are told to tell their patients that carnitine, omega threes,

CoQ10, pycnogenol, etc may dramatically improve their quality of life and or prevent heart disease in the future then they will be practicing medicine the way Hippocrates said they should.

Again they always say there are no double blind studies to back this approach up however I wouldn't avoid calling the fire department if my house was burning down even though they don't have double blind studies proving that what they do prevents house fires and or puts them out.

[grasswire]

5. Some doctors do.

Stephen Sinatra, cardiologist, practices this kind of medicine. It was because of his recommendations that I have added several supplements and intend to add a couple more.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

6. Too bad Frank's wife wouldn't let him near him towards the end, he might've

still been crooning.