Conditioned nutritional deficiencies in the cardiomyopathic hamster heart

BACKGROUND: Evidence indicates that nutritional factors may be important in the maintenance of myocyte structure and energetics. The failing myocardiu m has been reported to exhibit a depletion of several nutrients that are im portant for the maintenance of intracellular calcium homeostasis and cellul ar energetics, and levels of oxidative stress. This nutrient depletion may ge contribute to the progressive deterioration in myocardial structure and function observed in heart failure. OBJECTIVE: To examine the extent to which advanced cardiomyopathy results i n a depletion of nutrients and/or metabolites and antioxidants, and whether supplementation with these nutrients may influence cellular structure or f unction. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Cardiomyapathic hamsters were randomly placed to one of the three following diet groups: chow; control gelled diet; or a supplem ented gelled diet that provided taurine, carnitine, coenzyme Q10, selenium, vitamins E and C, creatine, thiamine and L-cysteine. After approximately t hree months of supplementation, one group of hamsters underwent functional testing using a modified Langendorff technique with biopsy samples taken fo r electron microscopy. Myocardial nutrient concentrations were determined i n a second group of diseased and nondiseased hamsters of the same age. RESULTS: Cardiomyopathy resulted in a depletion of vita min E, creatine, ca rnitinc, taurine and coenzyme Q10. Supplementation resulted in improved car diac ultrastructure, function and contractility compared with nonsupplement ed hamsters. CONCLUSIONS: These studies suggest that heart failure results in 'condition -related nutrient deficiencies' that, once corrected, can significantly imp act on heart function and structure.