Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Dietary Supplement Use in Heart Failure Patients

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to investigate the use of dietary supplements (DS) among heart failure (HF) patients and evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) among DS users.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted between May and July 2023, involving 65 patients admitted to cardiology inpatient wards. Data collection included a structured questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, health status, and DS use; a 3-day food consumption record to assess dietary intake; and the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Scale (MEDAS) to evaluate adherence to the MD. All data were collected through face-to-face interviews. Nutritional analyses were performed using BeBiS software, and adherence levels were categorized based on MEDAS scores.
RESULTS: Of the HF patients, 66.2% were male, with a mean age of 62.6 years. Vitamins and minerals were the most commonly used supplements (20%), while herbal products were less frequently used (9.2%). Among herbal supplement users, garlic was the most commonly reported product. The primary motivations for DS use were treating the disease and managing symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, and edema. The MEDAS score was moderate, with an average of 6.71±1.44, and no significant difference was observed between DS users and non-users (p>0.05). Micronutrient deficiencies, including vitamin C, iron, magnesium, and potassium, were identified in the dietary intake of patients. While physician recommendations were the primary source for vitamin and mineral supplement use, herbal supplements were more influenced by self-research and internet recommendations. No significant association was found between adherence to the MD and DS use (p>0.05).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The use of vitamins, minerals, and herbal products was low among HF patients. Adherence to the MD was moderate and showed no significant association with DS use.