Researchers with The Ohio State University College of Medicine and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center have identified a metabolic process in the heart that, if treated, could someday prevent or slow the progression of heart failure.
The American Heart Association journal Circulation published the findings today.
Before any physical signs or symptoms of heart failure are present, the first maladaptive changes occur in cardiac cell metabolism – how the heart fuels itself to pump blood through the body constantly.
“Our hearts burn fuel, much like combustion engines in cars. Instead of gasoline, our heart cells burn fats and a small amount of glucose,” said Doug Lewandowski, director of translational research at Ohio State’s Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute. “When our hearts become chronically stressed, they try to adapt, but some of those changes make things worse.”
Read more at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Image: This is Doug Lewandowski, PhD. (Credit: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center)