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.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for treating a patient having a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder, comprising orally administering to said patient a composition comprising an effective amount of triheptanoin. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said triheptanoin is provided in an amount suitable for providing 15% to 40% of the daily dietary calories to said patient. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said triheptanoin is provided in an amount suitable for providing 20% to 35% of the daily dietary calories to said patient. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said triheptanoin is provided in an amount suitable for providing about 25% of the daily dietary calories to said patient. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein triheptanoin is provided in a dosage unit comprising at least about 15 grams of triheptanoin. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein triheptanoin is provided in a dosage unit comprising 15 grams to 75 grams of triheptanoin.