A Defined, Plant-Based Diet and Other Integrative Therapies Improve Functional Status and Ejection Fraction while Reducing Medications in Patients With Heart Failure: A Case Series

Abstract

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is a major contributor of premature cardiovascular-related deaths. Patients are typically on numerous medications to manage this condition; however, patients continue to experience poor quality of life. Alternative therapeutic approaches are needed to treat HFrEF. The clinical course of seven patients with Stage C and D HFrEF who failed guideline-directed medical therapy were retrospectively analyzed based on medical chart data. All patients consumed a defined, plant-based diet as part of their clinical treatment, and a subset also underwent alternative treatment modalities: External Counterpulsation therapy, BEMER therapy, infrared sauna therapy, ozone therapy, or PlaqueX® therapy. Chart review of these patients indicated improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP). All patients also had a significant reduction in medication needs and body weight. Further, all patients reported significant improvements in their quality of life. These data suggest that a defined, plant-based diet combined with other alternative modalities may be efficacious in reducing HFrEF medications and treating Stage C or D HFrEF patients who failed guideline-direct medical therapies. Observations from this case series indicate a need for rigorous prospective studies to confirm these effects.