Fatty acid treatment for cardiac patients

Abstract

A method of treating patients in need of treatment for a cardiac disorder has been found which comprises administering to the patient a seven carbon fatty acid compound or derivative thereof, wherein the compound or derivative thereof is able to readily enter the mitochondrion without special transport enzymes. A dietary formulation suitable for treatment of heart tissue in cardiac or surgical patients has been found which comprises a seven-carbon fatty acid chain, wherein the seven-carbon fatty acid chain is characterized by the ability to transverse the inner mitochondrial membrane by a transport mechanism which does not require carnitine palmitoyltransferase I, carnitine palmitoyltransferase II, or carnitine/acylcarnitine translocase and the ability to undergo mitochondrial β-oxidation, and wherein the compound is selected from the group consisting of n-heptanoic acid or a derivative thereof, a triglyceride comprising n-heptanoic acid or a derivative thereof, and triheptanoin or a derivative thereof.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method of treating patients in need of treatment for a cardiac disorder, comprising administering to said patient a seven carbon fatty acid compound or derivative thereof, wherein said compound or derivative thereof is able to readily enter the mitochondrion without special transport enzymes. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said seven carbon fatty acid compound comprises n-heptanoic acid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said seven carbon fatty acid compound comprises a triglyceride comprising n-heptanoic acid. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said triglyceride comprises triheptanoin. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said derivative is a five carbon fatty acid chain. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said derivative is selected from the group consisting of 4-methylhexanoate, 4-methylhexenoate, 3-hydroxy-4-methylhexanoate, 5-methylhexanoate, 5-methylhexenoate and 3-hydroxy-5-methylhexanoate. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound or derivative thereof is capable of being broken down by normal β-oxidation in humans to methylbutyric acid. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound or derivative thereof is capable of being broken down by normal β-oxidation in humans to isovaleric acid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound or derivative is capable of being broken down by normal β-oxidation in humans to n-valeryl-CoA. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound or derivative is capable of being broken down by normal β-oxidation in humans to propionyl-CoA in one or more oxidative procedures. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound or derivative thereof is provided to said patient in an amount comprising at least about 25% of the dietary caloric requirement for said patient. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound or derivative is provided orally. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound or derivative is provided parenterally. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said compound or derivative is provided intraperitoneally. 
     
     
         15 . The method of any of  claims 1 - 14 , wherein said cardiac disorder is cardiac myopathy. 
     
     
         16 . The method of any of  claims 1 - 14 , wherein said cardiac disorder is the aftermath of heart surgery and said compound or derivative is utilized for direct fueling of heart muscle.