Nursing Faculty Receives $1.5 Million NIH Grant for Nutritional Interventions Study

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 11, 2011) − Terry Lennie, professor at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing and co-director of the Research and Interventions for Cardiovascular Health (RICH) Heart Program, has received a $1,596,473 grant from the National Institute of Nursing Research to study non-pharmacologic interventions to reduce symptoms of heart failure.
 

Three major pathways underlying heart symptoms have been identified as fluid overload, inflammation and oxidative stress. Prior research has demonstrated that three nutrients - sodium, omega-3 fatty acids and lycopene - can alter these pathologic pathways. Clinical trials to date have only tested each nutrient individually.

Lennie and his team of co-investigators will test the effects of a six-month intervention of dietary sodium reduction combined with supplementation of lycopene and omega-3 fatty acids on heart failure symptoms, health-related quality of life, and time to heart failure rehospitalization or death.
 

Co-investigators are Martha Biddle, assistant professor in the College of Nursing; Debra Moser, professor in the College of Nursing; Mary Kay Rayens, professor in the College of Nursing; Darlene Welsh, assistant professor in the College of Nursing; Alison Bailey, assistant professor in the UK College of Medicine; Geza Bruckner, professor in the Division of Clinical Nutrition at the UK College of Health Sciences; and Travis Thomas, assistant professor in the Division of Clinical Nutrition in the UK College of Health Sciences.

Media Contact: Ann Blackford at (859) 323-6442