Effect of a Sodium-Restricted Diet on Intake of Other Nutrients in Heart Failure: Implications for Research and Clinical Practice

Abstract Background Sodium restriction is the primary dietary therapy for heart failure (HF) patients. Currently, it is unknown if changing diets to reduce dietary sodium in HF causes secondary changes to the intake of other nutrients in this patient population already at nutritional risk. Methods and Results HF patients (n = 16; 52 ± 12 years old; 78% male) followed a sodium-restricted diet for 1 week. Nutritional changes were documented at baseline and after a P P  = .013), calcium (995 ± 496 to 609 ± 208 mg/d; P P  = .020), and folate (412 ± 192 to 331 ± 172 μg/d; P  = .019) intakes. There was a decrease in saturated fat (32 ± 18 to 21 ± 6 g/d; P  = .032) and a trend to lower total fat (89 ± 34 to 68 ± 19 g/d; P  = .066) and higher potassium (1,262 ± 328 to 1,405 ± 268 mg/1,000 kcal; P  = .055) intakes. Conclusions We found multiple unintentional nutritional consequences with dietary sodium reduction in HF patients. These findings highlight the need to consider the whole diet when counseling HF patients to lower sodium intake.