Low-Carbohydrate/High-Fat Diet Attenuates Pressure Overload–Induced Ventricular Remodeling and Dysfunction

Duda, Monika K.; O'Shea, Karen M.; Lei, Biao; Barrows, Brian R.; Azimzadeh, Agnes M.; McElfresh, Tracy E.; Hoit, Brian D.; Kop, Willem J.; Stanley, William C.

doi:10.1016/j.cardfail.2007.11.003

« Previous Next »Journal of Cardiac Failure
Volume 14, Issue 4 , Pages 327-335, May 2008

Low-Carbohydrate/High-Fat Diet Attenuates Pressure Overload–Induced Ventricular Remodeling and Dysfunction

Monika K. Duda, PhD
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Karen M. O'Shea, BS
- Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Biao Lei, MD, PhD
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
Brian R. Barrows, PhD
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
Agnes M. Azimzadeh, PhD
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
Tracy E. McElfresh, BS
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Brian D. Hoit, MD
- Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Willem J. Kop, PhD
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
William C. Stanley, PhD
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
- Reprint requests: William C. Stanley, PhD, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Maryland-Baltimore, 20 Penn Street, HSF2, Room S022, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Received 20 July 2007; received in revised form 30 October 2007; accepted 1 November 2007. published online 15 February 2008.

Abstract

Background

It is not known how carbohydrate and fat intake affect the development of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction in response to pressure overload. We hypothesized that a low-carbohydrate/high-fat diet prevents LV hypertrophy and dysfunction compared with high-carbohydrate diets.

Methods and Results

Rats were fed high-carbohydrate diets composed of either starch or sucrose, or a low-carbohydrate/high-fat diet, and underwent abdominal aortic banding (AAB) for 2 months. AAB increased LV mass with all diets. LV end-diastolic and systolic volumes and the ratio of the mRNA for myosin heavy chain β/α were increased with both high-carbohydrate diets but not with the low-carbohydrate/high-fat diet. Circulating levels of insulin and leptin, both stimulants for cardiac growth, were lower, and free fatty acids were higher with the low-carbohydrate/high-fat diet compared with high-carbohydrate diets. Among animals that underwent AAB, LV volumes were positively correlated with insulin and LV mass correlated with leptin.

Conclusion

A low-carbohydrate/high-fat diet attenuated pressure overload-induced LV remodeling compared with high-carbohydrate diets. This effect corresponded to lower insulin and leptin concentrations, suggesting they may contribute to the development of LV hypertrophy and dysfunction under conditions of pressure overload.

Key Words: Diet, heart failure, insulin, leptin