Medically tailored meals for the management of symptomatic ascites: the SALTYFOOD pilot randomized clinical trial

Top Things to Know

MTMs led to fewer paracenteses per week compared to standard care, and better ascites-specific quality of life.

The MTM group experienced fewer deaths during the study period.

MTMs are effective in the management of symptomatic ascites and appear to play a role in reducing the need for invasive procedures.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

This study evaluated the feasibility and impact of low-sodium medically tailored meals (MTMs) for patients with cirrhosis and severe ascites. Participants were randomized to receive either standard care (an educational handout on low-sodium diets) or MTMs with specific nutritional content. The primary outcome was the number of paracenteses performed over 12 weeks. The study found that patients receiving MTMs required fewer paracenteses and had improved ascites-specific quality of life compared to those receiving standard care. Additionally, fewer deaths occurred in the MTM group.