In Post-Cardiac Transplant Patients, Weight Loss with a Plant-Based Diet Compares Favorably to Weight Loss with Usual Care and is Safe: A Pilot Study

In Post-Cardiac Transplant Patients, Weight Loss with a Plant-Based Diet Compares Favorably to Weight Loss with Usual Care and is Safe: A Pilot Study

Objective: Weight gain after cardiac transplantation is common. A whole-food plant-based (WFPB) diet may result in weight loss in post-cardiac transplant patients.

Methods: Four patients at least six months post-cardiac transplantation were encouraged to adopt a WFPB diet. Twentynine consecutive post-cardiac transplant patients undergoing standard care were the comparator group. The primary endpoint was the percentage of patients who lost ten or more pounds in each group.

Results: Three of the 4 (75%) patients who at least partially adopted (>50%) the WFPB diet lost ten or more pounds compared with 7 of 29 (24%) usual care patients (p=0.07). Among patients losing any weight, the median percent weight loss was 9.0% for the WFPB group (n=3) vs. 5.3% for the usual care group (n=13), (p=0.16). No complications due to diet occurred.

Conclusion and Implications: A WFPB diet was safe and may facilitate weight loss for patients at least six months post cardiactransplantation. Further study is suggested.