In this exploratory secondary analysis of adults with chronic HF, type 2 DM, and overweight or obesity, no statistically significant racial or ethnic differences were identified in the dietary and laboratory measures examined, though small subgroup sizes and substantial missing dietary data limit the precision of these findings.
The study sample had a mean age of 58.5 years and was predominantly male and married with mostly Class II heart failure.
Mean age differed statistically across racial and ethnic groups at the omnibus level, but no pairwise contrast remained significant after correction for multiple comparisons.
No statistically significant between-group differences were identified in body mass index, waist circumference, or left ventricular ejection fraction across racial and ethnic groups.
No statistically significant between-group differences were found in dietary intake across racial and ethnic groups.
No statistically significant between-group differences were identified in any of the laboratory biomarkers examined across racial and ethnic groups.
The study used baseline data from the Pro-HEART randomized clinical trial and employed one-way ANOVA and chi-square or Fisher's exact tests to evaluate group differences.
The authors concluded that smaller or clinically meaningful differences in dietary and metabolic measures across racial and ethnic groups cannot be excluded given the study's limitations.
This research examined whether adults with heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and overweight or obesity showed differences in diet and blood test results depending on their racial or ethnic background. Using data collected at the start of a clinical trial called Pro-HEART, researchers compared 92 participants who identified as White, Asian/Other, Hispanic, or Black. They looked at what people ate using three-day food diaries and measured various health markers in the blood, such as cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and kidney function indicators. The study found no statistically significant differences between racial and ethnic groups in diet, body measurements like BMI and waist size, heart function, or any of the blood tests examined. The only initial difference found was in average age across groups, but even that did not hold up after applying a statistical correction for multiple comparisons. This suggests that, at least in this particular group of patients, racial and ethnic background was not clearly linked to measurable differences in nutrition or metabolic health markers. However, the findings must be interpreted cautiously. The study had a relatively small number of participants overall, and the subgroups by race and ethnicity were quite small — as few as 12 people in the Black group. Additionally, a significant amount of dietary data was missing, which further reduced the reliability of the comparisons. The authors note that real differences — including ones that might matter clinically — could still exist but simply were not detectable in a study this size. Larger studies with better and more complete dietary information are needed to more definitively determine whether racial and ethnic disparities exist in nutrition and metabolic health among people living with heart failure and diabetes.
Evangelista L, Nguyen A, Kawi J, Meraz R, Wierenga K, Angosta A, et al.. (2026). Racial and Ethnic Differences in Dietary Intake and Metabolic Profiles Among Adults with Heart Failure, Type 2 Diabetes, and Overweight or Obesity: A Secondary Analysis of the Pro-HEART Trial.. Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18162737