Eating foods rich in fiber, healthy fats, iron, magnesium, selenium and vitamin B1 is linked to a lower risk of heart failure. This conclusion comes from researchers at Shanxi Provincial People’s Hospital of Xi’an Jiao-Tong University in China and was published in PLOS ONE.
The study involved 10,766 participants who provided dietary information and underwent evaluations to assess heart function and cardiometabolic health. The investigators aimed to understand how malnutrition–driven inflammation might influence the likelihood of developing heart failure.
Findings indicated that poorer diet quality correlated with higher levels of inflammatory markers and greater body concentrations of pro B-type natriuretic peptide. A rising trend in NT-proBNP is recognized as an important signal of potential heart failure.
Scientists also observed that the lowest risk of heart failure associated with inflammation occurred in individuals with a diet balanced in proteins, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin B1, niacin, folic acid, vitamin E, magnesium, iron, selenium, caffeine, ethanol and omega-3 fatty acids.
The team highlighted selenium’s antioxidant role as especially important for protecting tissues from oxidative stress. Vitamins A and beta carotene, niacin, folic acid and vitamin E are considered critical in supporting heart health and overall cardiovascular function.
Sources of selenium include olive oil, seafood, fish, olives, legumes, nuts, buckwheat and oatmeal. Vitamin A, vitamin E, folic acid and beta carotene are abundant in plant foods and green leafy vegetables; niacin is found in rye bread, buckwheat and beans.
These findings reinforce the link between diet quality and cardiovascular risk, underscoring how a balanced intake of micronutrients and macronutrients may influence inflammatory processes and heart health over time.
Overall, the research adds to a growing body of evidence that nutrient-rich dietary patterns contribute to lower inflammatory load and better cardiometabolic profiles, potentially reducing the burden of heart failure on a population level [Citation: Shanxi Provincial People’s Hospital; Xi’an Jiao-Tong University; PLOS ONE].