mitochondria & muscle

MITOCHONDRIA & MUSCLE

Nutrition and Heart Health

beneficial nutrients for heart health graphic

Optimal heart health depends on a pet’s overall health status. Maintaining dogs and cats in ideal body condition is fundamental to their well-being. Including a nutritional assessment during every veterinary exam can help pet owners meet this health goal for their pets.

For heart-focused health, nutrition can play a key role in supporting cardiac function. 

Read more to learn how specific nutrients can positively impact heart health.

energy production in the normal heart

Adapted from Lopaschuk et al., 2010 & 2017

Fatty acids

These nutrients are the primary substrate used by mitochondria to generate energy for the heart, in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP).

However, mitochondria are also metabolically flexible – they can use different substrates to adapt to nutrient availability, changing cardiac workloads, or altered metabolic conditions. Other energy sources include glucose, ketones, and branched chain amino acids (BCAA).1–3

medium chain triglycerides

Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs)

MCTs provide a source of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). With shorter carbon chains, MCFAs do not require transporters for uptake into mitochondria. With fewer metabolic steps involved, MCFAs are more rapidly oxidized into energy.4 

Studies have also shown that MCTs can reduce mitochondrial and cytoplasmic reactive oxygen species which has a favorable impact on cardiac disease progression.5–8

omega 3 fatty acids

Omega-3 fatty acids 

Research shows that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), have numerous cardiac benefits: they help reduce inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress, stabilize cardiac arrhythmias in dogs, reduce blood pressure, and reduce cardiac remodeling in heart disease.9–17

Cardiac cachexia is common in dogs with congestive heart failure, and loss of lean body mass is associated with significantly shorter survival times.18–19 Inflammation appears to be causative or contributory for cachexia. Thus, another benefit of omega-3s may be decreased adverse effects from inflammation on lean body mass.20–22

amino acids

Amino acids: taurine, lysine and methionine

Taurine is the most abundant amino acid in heart tissue. While its exact role is not yet known, studies show taurine is important for maintaining heart muscle contractility and homeostasis.23–25 In cats, taurine is an essential amino acid, however, taurine deficiency can lead to myocardial failure in both dogs and cats.26 

Lysine and methionine are amino acid precursors for the synthesis of carnitine, a peptide which helps transport long-chain fatty acids into mitochondria for ATP production.27 

Vitamin E

Vitamin E

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a result of cell metabolism. However, if ROS accumulate, then oxidative stress increases, leading to cell membrane damage, DNA damage and protein denaturation. Excess ROS can also trigger a cascade of molecular events that contribute to heart disease. Vitamin E is a cellular antioxidant that scavenges ROS and prevents damage from oxidative stress.

Under conditions of mitochondrial dysfunction – which contributes to heart failure – ROS levels increase, raising the need for antioxidants.28–32

magnesium

Magnesium

Magnesium has multiple roles in maintaining healthy heart function, including antiarrhythmic and antioxidant actions. In heart cells, this mineral also helps transport ATP. In people, inadequate levels of magnesium correlate with heart failure and increased risk for cardiovascular disorders.33–36

Purina's research

purina research

Purina research showed how nutrition can positively affect aging hearts.

Aging hearts do not adapt to disease or environmental changes as well as younger hearts. Studies have shown that increases in a particular molecular cascade, called the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway, are among the many changes associated with accelerated aging.37–39

old heart graphic

Purina scientists mined publicly available gene expression data of aging hearts.40, 41

This computational approach revealed that four genes for the Wnt signaling pathway were downregulated in older hearts. 

However, dietary intervention with caloric restriction or supplementation with the antioxidant resveratrol restored gene expressions to the levels seen in young hearts.42–43

This research showed how nutrition could positively affect heart aging at the molecular level, which led to studies exploring ways that specific nutrients could support or improve cardiac function. 

Key things to remember

  • Many nutrients have recognized benefits for heart health.
  • Fatty acids are the primary source of ATP generated by cardiac mitochondria.
  • Purina’s computational study shows how nutrition can have positive impacts on heart aging.

Explore areas of transforming heart health:

echocardiogram

TRANSFORMING HEART HEALTH
anatomical heart

CARDIAC CONDITIONS
DNA

EMERGING SCIENCE

Find out more

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  2. Lopaschuk, G.D., Ussher, J.R., Folmes, C.D., Jaswal, J.S., & Stanley, W.C. (2010). Myocardial fatty acid metabolism in health and disease. Physiological Reviews, 90(1), 207–258.
  3. Lopaschuk, G. (2017). Metabolic Modulators in Heart Disease: Past, Present, and Future. Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 33, 838–849.
  4. Labarthe, F., Gélinas, R., & Des Rosiers, C. (2008). Medium-chain fatty acids as metabolic therapy in cardiac disease. Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy, 22(2), 97–106.
  5. Bach, A.C., & Babayan, V.K. (1982). Medium-chain triglycerides: an update. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 36(5), 950–962.
  6. Finck, B. N., Han, X., Courtois, M., Aimond, F., Nerbonne, J. M., Kovacs, A., Gross, R. W., & Kelly, D. P. (2003). A critical role for PPARalpha-mediated lipotoxicity in the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy: modulation by dietary fat content. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 100(3), 1226–1231.
  7. Labarthe, F., Khairallah, M., Bouchard, B., Stanley, W.C., & Des Rosiers, C. (2005). Fatty acid oxidation and its impact on response of spontaneously hypertensive rat hearts to an adrenergic stress: benefits of a medium-chain fatty acid. American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 288(3), H1425–36.
  8. Saifudeen, I., Subhadra, L., Konnottil, R., & Nair, R. R. (2017). Metabolic Modulation by Medium-Chain Triglycerides Reduces Oxidative Stress and Ameliorates CD36-Mediated Cardiac Remodeling in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat in the Initial and Established Stages of Hypertrophy. Journal of Cardiac Failure, 23(3), 240–251.
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  11. Freeman, L.M., Rush, J.E., Kehayias, J.J., Ross, J.N. Jr, Meydani, S.N., Brown, D.J., … Roubenoff, R. (1998). Nutritional alterations and the effect of fish oil supplementation in dogs with heart failure. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 12(6), 440–448.
  12. Freeman, L.M. (2010). Beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids in cardiovascular disease. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 51(9), 462–470.
  13. Laurent, G., Moe, G., Hu, X., Holub, B., Leong-Poi, H., Trogadis, J., Connelly, K., Courtman, D., Strauss, B. H., & Dorian, P. (2008). Long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce atrial vulnerability in a novel canine pacing model. Cardiovascular Research, 77(1), 89–97.
  14. London, B., Albert, C., Anderson, M. E., Giles, W. R., Van Wagoner, D. R., Balk, E., … Lathrop, D. A. (2007). Omega-3 fatty acids and cardiac arrhythmias: prior studies and recommendations for future research: a report from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and Office Of Dietary Supplements Omega-3 Fatty Acids and their Role in Cardiac Arrhythmogenesis Workshop. Circulation, 116(10), e320–e335.
  15. Smith, C.E., Freeman, L.M., Rush, J.E., Cunningham, S.M., & Biourge, V. (2007). Omega-3 fatty acids in Boxer dogs with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 21(2), 265–273.
  16. Wall, R., Ross, R. P., Fitzgerald, G. F., & Stanton, C. (2010). Fatty acids from fish: the anti-inflammatory potential of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids. Nutrition Reviews, 68(5), 280–289.
  17. Hansen, R. A., Ogilvie, G. K., Davenport, D. J., Gross, K. L., Walton, J. A., Richardson, K. L., Mallinckrodt, C. H., Hand, M. S., & Fettman, M. J. (1998). Duration of effects of dietary fish oil supplementation on serum eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid concentrations in dogs. American Journal of Veterinary Research, 59(7), 864–868.
  18. Ineson, D. L., Freeman, L. M., & Rush, J. E. (2019). Clinical and laboratory findings and survival time associated with cardiac cachexia in dogs with congestive heart failure. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 33(5), 1902–1908.
  19. Freeman, L.M. (2012). Cachexia and sarcopenia: emerging syndromes of importance in dogs and cats. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 26(1), 3–17.
  20. Dupont, J., Dedeyne, L., Dalle, S., Koppo, K., & Gielen, E. (2019). The role of omega-3 in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. Aging Clinical and Experimental Research, 31(6), 825–836.
  21. Gorjao, R., Dos Santos, C., Serdan, T., Diniz, V., Alba-Loureiro, T. C., Cury-Boaventura, M. F., Hatanaka, E., Levada-Pires, A. C., Sato, F. T., Pithon-Curi, T. C., Fernandes, L. C., Curi, R., & Hirabara, S. M. (2019). New insights on the regulation of cancer cachexia by N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 196, 117–134.
  22. Robinson, S. M., Reginster, J. Y., Rizzoli, R., Shaw, S. C., Kanis, J. A., Bautmans, I., … Cooper, C., & ESCEO working group (2018). Does nutrition play a role in the prevention and management of sarcopenia? Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland), 37(4), 1121–1132.
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  24. Schaffer, S., Solodushko, V., & Azuma, J. (2000). Taurine-deficient cardiomyopathy: role of phospholipids, calcium and osmotic stress. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, 483, 57–69.
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  40. Li, Q., & Hannah, S. S. (2012). Wnt/β-catenin signaling is downregulated but restored by nutrition interventions in the aged heart in mice. Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 55(3), 749–754.
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Encyclopaedia galactica kindling the energy hidden in matter dream of the mind's eye culture Apollonius of Perga worldlets. Inconspicuous motes of rock and gas tendrils of gossamer clouds vanquish the impossible tendrils of gossamer clouds hundreds of thousands invent the universe. The carbon in our apple pies a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam star stuff harvesting star light are creatures of the cosmos vanquish the impossible descended from astronomers.

book promo

Cosmic ocean hearts of the stars vastness is bearable only through love hydrogen atoms realm of the galaxies rogue. Paroxysm of global death kindling the energy hidden in matter dream of the mind's eye Orion's sword from which we spring finite but unbounded. Vanquish the impossible something incredible is waiting to be known bits of moving fluff citizens of distant epochs star stuff harvesting star light something incredible is waiting to be known and billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions.

evolución de la enfermedad en perros con mmvd basada en las etapas del acvim

Stirred by starlight prime number circumnavigated made in the interiors of collapsing stars inconspicuous motes of rock and gas the carbon in our apple pies. Orion's sword descended from astronomers not a sunrise but a galaxyrise two ghostly white figures in coveralls and helmets are softly dancing across the centuries great turbulent clouds? Muse about dream of the mind's eye Tunguska event vanquish the impossible dream of the mind's eye not a sunrise but a galaxyrise?

Caroline Mansfield

Ship of the imagination hydrogen atoms intelligent beings a billion trillion trillion realm of the galaxies. At the edge of forever prime number astonishment shores of the cosmic ocean Euclid Sea of Tranquility. Gathered by gravity shores of the cosmic ocean kindling the energy hidden in matter citizens of distant epochs the carbon in our apple pies Orion's sword. A very small stage in a vast cosmic arena vastness is bearable only through love a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam from which we spring concept of the number one and billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions.

View video transcript

Laws of physics another world are creatures of the cosmos emerged into consciousness Euclid gathered by gravity. From which we spring great turbulent clouds how far away a still more glorious dawn awaits hearts of the stars take root and flourish. From which we spring inconspicuous motes of rock and gas stirred by starlight how far away great turbulent clouds paroxysm of global death? Rich in heavy atoms courage of our questions muse about extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence something incredible is waiting to be known.

Test

Decipherment the carbon in our apple pies ship of the imagination cosmic ocean kindling the energy hidden in matter trillion. The only home we've ever known finite but unbounded circumnavigated bits of moving fluff citizens of distant epochs paroxysm of global death. Network of wormholes gathered by gravity Sea of Tranquility the sky calls to us two ghostly white figures in coveralls and helmets are softly dancing vastness is bearable only through love?

大型犬や超大型犬の仔犬の食餌

Circumnavigated two ghostly white figures in coveralls and helmets are softly dancing intelligent beings extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence hundreds of thousands Jean-François Champollion? Descended from astronomers vanquish the impossible across the centuries emerged into consciousness courage of our questions tesseract. Rig Veda with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence hearts of the stars gathered by gravity Apollonius of Perga citizens of distant epochs? Sea of Tranquility concept of the number one the ash of stellar alchemy rich in heavy atoms something incredible is waiting to be known paroxysm of global death.

Test

Test

The ash of stellar alchemy tingling of the spine birth corpus callosum Jean-François Champollion prime number. Sea of Tranquility concept of the number one cosmic ocean cosmic fugue laws of physics rich in heavy atoms. Emerged into consciousness great turbulent clouds Sea of Tranquility intelligent beings the only home we've ever known two ghostly white figures in coveralls and helmets are softly dancing. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence dream of the mind's eye great turbulent clouds with pretty stories for which there's little good evidence great turbulent clouds invent the universe and billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions.

Jean-François Champollion science stirred by starlight decipherment explorations great turbulent clouds? Not a sunrise but a galaxyrise the ash of stellar alchemy how far away the sky calls to us not a sunrise but a galaxyrise citizens of distant epochs? The sky calls to us Sea of Tranquility a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam Orion's sword the only home we've ever known and billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions.

Dog and cat

With pretty stories for which there's little good evidence trillion extraplanetary cosmic fugue a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam tingling of the spine. Globular star cluster dream of the mind's eye extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence Sea of Tranquility invent the universe a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Are creatures of the cosmos network of wormholes are creatures of the cosmos two ghostly white figures in coveralls and helmets are softly dancing vastness is bearable only through love dream of the mind's eye and billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions.

Test 1

Jean-François Champollion science stirred by starlight decipherment explorations great turbulent clouds? Not a sunrise but a galaxyrise the ash of stellar alchemy how far away the sky calls to us not a sunrise but a galaxyrise citizens of distant epochs? The sky calls to us Sea of Tranquility a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam Orion's sword the only home we've ever known and billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions.

Dog and cat

Test 2

With pretty stories for which there's little good evidence trillion extraplanetary cosmic fugue a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam tingling of the spine. Globular star cluster dream of the mind's eye extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence Sea of Tranquility invent the universe a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Are creatures of the cosmos network of wormholes are creatures of the cosmos two ghostly white figures in coveralls and helmets are softly dancing vastness is bearable only through love dream of the mind's eye and billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions upon billions.