Cutting back on ultra-processed foods in people with heart failure
Looks at eating fewer ultra-processed foods in adults with heart failure.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Dietary Tracking in Heart Failure
Key facts
- Where
- Cleveland, United StatesSee the site
Where in United States
- Cleveland Clinic - Main CampusCleveland, United StatesNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- The Cleveland Clinic
- Trial code
- NCT07649148
- Record updated
- 28 September 2026
- Original description
Emerging evidence links ultra processed foods (UPFs) to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. UPFs are often high in sodium, unhealthy fats and added sugars, while being low in essential nutrients and fiber. UPFs contribute to systemic inflammation, fluid retention, and metabolic dysfunction-key drivers of HF and kidney disease progression. Traditional dietary counseling often lacks specificity around food processing levels. Furthermore, the majority of nutrition studies relied on extensive self-reported dietary recall food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) that are subjective, often labor intensive, and difficult to implement practically in the clinical setting. As such, researchers have developed metabolite scores from blood and urine samples to help quantify UPF consumption, which has the promise to better guide dietary counseling and track process. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and physiological impact of a structured UPF-reduction dietary intervention in patients with HF, leveraging both digital dietary tools (Cronometer) and biomarker assessments.Read full original descriptionShow less
Dietary Optimization Through Tracking and Integrated Evaluation
Emerging evidence links ultra processed foods (UPFs) to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. UPFs are often high in sodium, unhealthy fats and added sugars, while being low in essential nutrients and fiber. UPFs contribute to systemic inflammation, fluid retention, and metabolic dysfunction-key drivers of HF and kidney disease progression. Traditional dietary counseling often lacks specificity around food processing levels. Furthermore, the majority of nutrition studies relied on extensive self-reported dietary recall food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) that are subjective, often labor intensive, and difficult to implement practically in the clinical setting. As such, researchers have developed metabolite scores from blood and urine samples to help quantify UPF consumption, which has the promise to better guide dietary counseling and track process. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and physiological impact of a structured UPF-reduction dietary intervention in patients with HF, leveraging both digital dietary tools (Cronometer) and biomarker assessments.
Inclusion: Adults (≥18 years) with NYHA Class II-III HF; Able to use Cronometer to track dietary intake and able to prepare food at home independently (able to modify dietary intake).
Exclusion: History of heart transplant or LVAD implant; eGFR <30 ml/kg/1.73m2; Unable or unwilling to follow dietary coaching for UPF reduction.