Efficacy of diet with low glycemic index in evaluating outcomes after stenting in ischemic heart disease

Djuravaevich, Payziev Djamshid (2025) Efficacy of diet with low glycemic index in evaluating outcomes after stenting in ischemic heart disease. World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 22 (2). pp. 155-163. ISSN 2582-5542

Introduction. Nutritional intervention is a critical element of post-stenting cardiac rehabilitation. Among dietary strategies, low-carbohydrate regimens have emerged as a potentially beneficial approach for enhancing metabolic control and minimizing complications in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). Objective. To evaluate the effects of a low-carbohydrate diet on lipid metabolism, systemic inflammation, and clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods. A total of 108 post-stenting patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to either a low-carbohydrate diet group (n=54) or a standard diet group (n=54). Over a 12-month follow-up, assessments included lipid and glycemic profiles, inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α), echocardiographic parameters, and incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results. Patients adhering to the low-carbohydrate diet showed significant reductions in triglycerides (−28.5%, p<0.001), low-density lipoprotein (−18.7%, p<0.05), fasting glucose (−9.3%, p<0.01), and insulin levels (−16.8%, p<0.001), with a concurrent rise in high-density lipoprotein (+15.2%, p<0.01). Inflammatory markers were significantly lower, which paralleled a reduced incidence of recurrent angina (7.4% vs. 15.8%, p=0.03), repeat revascularization (5.2% vs. 12.6%, p=0.02), and cardiovascular mortality (2.1% vs. 5.9%, p=0.04). Conclusions. Implementation of a low-carbohydrate diet in post-PCI care enhances metabolic profiles, attenuates inflammation, and lowers the risk of adverse cardiovascular events, underscoring its utility as a key element in comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation.