# Nutrition in cardiac amyloidosis
Protein intake and digestion
In cardiac amyloidosis, nutritional and digestive problems can occur, especially if the disease affects other organs.
ProveniIncluded in official guidelines, or approved by EMA or FDA
Malnutrition and low serum albumin (a protein in the blood) are associated with worse outcomes in transthyretin amyloidosis. This means that adequate nutrition and stable protein levels are important for your overall health.
The heart needs a lot of energy. Protein is important for maintaining muscle mass, which helps support your heart. If you have trouble eating – due to nausea, early fullness, or oesophageal problems – a dietitian can help adjust your nutrition so you still get enough. This is not the same as a strict diet: it's about allowing your body to get what it needs.
Salt and fluid intake
In heart failure, salt and fluid balance play an important role.
ProveniIncluded in official guidelines, or approved by EMA or FDA
In cardiac amyloidosis with heart failure, it is usually recommended to limit fluid intake and reduce salt, because too much salt can cause fluid to be retained in the body.
This varies from person to person and depending on the stage of the disease. How much salt and fluid is appropriate depends on how your heart is working, what medications you are taking, and how you feel. It is best to discuss this with your cardiologist or dietitian – they know your specific situation.
Nutrition and bowel problems
If amyloidosis also affects your gastrointestinal tract, diarrhoea, constipation, or digestive problems can occur.
ResearchediPositive results in clinical studies, not yet standard treatment
Research shows that digestive symptoms in systemic AL amyloidosis affect how patients fare. The extent of bowel involvement and nutritional status are linked to survival and quality of life.
Here, small, regular meals and certain food choices can help. Which nutrients are better in your case – more fibre or less, certain types of fat, temperature of food – this varies greatly from person to person. Your dietitian can explore with you what works.
Nutrition and medication use
Some medications used in cardiac amyloidosis can affect nutrition or fluid intake.
ResearchediPositive results in clinical studies, not yet standard treatment
Research into optimal medical treatment of transthyretin amyloidosis emphasises that symptom management – including nutrition – is important alongside medications against amyloidosis itself.
Certain nutrients can interfere with medications. Also, medication use can affect hunger, taste, or how your body absorbs nutrition. These are things to discuss with your pharmacist or doctor if you want to align your nutrition well with your treatment.
Specific nutrients
Research is underway into various nutritional approaches in different forms of amyloidosis.
ExperimentaliOngoing in study setting, outcome still unknown
Animal studies suggest that certain dietary interventions may have effects on amyloid-related processes, but this has not yet been translated into proven advice for patients with cardiac amyloidosis.
This means you should be careful with claims about nutritional supplements or special diets that "cure" or significantly improve amyloidosis. Such claims are usually unproven. What does help: getting good nutrition to support your overall health, and nutrition that suits your heart failure (salt, fluid) and your digestive problems.
Collaboration with specialists
Because cardiac amyloidosis can spread to multiple organs – heart, nerves, kidney, gastrointestinal tract – nutrition is not always straightforward.
ProveniIncluded in official guidelines, or approved by EMA or FDA
Multidimensional care, where different specialists work together and nutrition is also discussed, contributes to better disease management and associated symptoms.
Your GP, cardiologist, and possibly a dietitian can work together to determine the best nutrition plan for you. This plan can change over time as your disease or treatment changes. It is important to discuss this regularly.
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_This information never replaces a doctor's judgment. Always discuss your situation with your own healthcare provider._