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Multicenter Study
. 2024 Aug 25;16(17):2843.
doi: 10.3390/nu16172843.

Update on Nutritional Advice Post-Heart Transplant: A Cross-Sectional Study across French-Speaking European Centers

Jean-Baptiste Bonnet  1   2 , Claire Trémolières  1 , Clémence Furic-Bego  1 , Laetitia Galibert  1 , Ariane Sultan  1   3 , Vincent Attalin  1 , Antoine Avignon  1   2
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Update on Nutritional Advice Post-Heart Transplant: A Cross-Sectional Study across French-Speaking European Centers

Jean-Baptiste Bonnet et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Introduction: Heart transplantation is the standard treatment for severe heart failure. Graft preservation and infectious risk secondary to immunosuppressive drugs lead healthcare teams to offer nutritional advice to patients upon discharge from the hospital. However, no consensus or recommendation is available.

Method: We conducted a study to review the practices in all 26 centers providing heart transplantation in French-speaking Europe. We requested and analyzed the written documents these centers provided to their patients. The same two dieticians categorized the highlighted pieces of advice into distinct, autonomous categories.

Results: We identified 116 pieces of advice, categorized into three areas: dietary restrictions for immunosuppressant/food interaction; environmental and food preparation guidelines and prevention of foodborne infections; and healthy and active lifestyle recommendations. Except for advice on immunosuppressant/food interaction, over one-third of the centers suggest discontinuing advice within 2 years post-transplant. General dietary advice covers lipids, carbohydrates, protein, calcium, sodium, and fiber but offers limited guidance on fatty acids despite their importance in cardiovascular risk prevention.

Conclusion: This study represents a pioneering exploration of the nutritional advice provided to patients following cardiac transplantation. It underscores the critical necessity of establishing consensus-based clinical guidelines in this domain.

Keywords: cardiovascular risk; foodborne infections; heart failure; transplantation; undernutrition.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Number of centers with food avoidance related to immunosuppressive drugs (n = 26). Values are n (%).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Advice on the environment, food preparation, and food evictions to prevent foodborne infections. Data are presented as number of centers that gave each advice. Values are n (%).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Duration of nutritional and health recommendations (n = 26).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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