HDHL MICA: Microbiota-Inflammation-Brain axis in heart failure ... (AMBROSIA)

Long-term limited dietary intake (undernutrition) in older adults can greatly increase the risk of ill-health and increase frailty. Undernutrition is a common issue in patients diagnosed with heart failure and atrial fibrillation (an issue which causes an irregular heartbeat). Improving dietary intake in this patient group could improve physical functionality and should also reduce risk of future heart issues.

The aim of this EU collaboration (the AMBROSIA project) is to test whether dietary counselling and provision of a novel fortified food product can benefit this patient group. This collaboration researchers across four different countries (Italy, Republic of Ireland, Spain and the UK) and bring together industrial and academic expertise.

The first goal of this study will be to design the novel food product (the AMBROSIA bar), specifically enriched an ideal mix of protein, fibre and other factors. The impacts of dietary counselling, either alone or in tandem with AMBROSIA bar intake will be assessed in 120 heart failure and atrial fibrillation patients. Blood samples, dietary data, cognitive testing and measurements of body composition will be collected from patients to track the impact of these two treatments.

Additional analysis of blood, urine and stool samples will also analyse wider changes in metabolites and gut microbiota that will support understanding of the relationship of these factors with disease management. Use of cutting-edge machine-learning approaches will also help to uncover new "signatures" of dietary intake, frailty and health status.

Such findings would have wider benefit on the understanding of the impact of dietary intake on supporting positive ageing