Beneficial effect of a low-fat low-calorie diet on myocardial energy metabolism in patients with angina pectoris.

8 patients with exertional angina pectoris were treated for 3 months with a low-fat, low-calorie diet. Serum cholesterol was reduced by 28% and body-weight by 7.9 kg on average. The effect of the dietary intervention was assessed by a heart metabolic study during pacing-induced tachycardia. After dietary treatment coronary sinus blood-flow and myocardial oxygen consumption were considerably reduced, but pacing time before angina developed increased. Other improvements were a reduction in lactate release during pacing, a reduction in citrate release during recovery, a reduction in alanine output during rest and recovery, and a lower uptake of glutamate. The results suggest a beneficial effect of low-fat, low-calorie dietary treatment on myocardial energy metabolism in patients with exertional angina pectoris.