A new study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine reveals that a culturally tailored food is medicine program significantly improved outcomes for adults with heart failure in the Navajo Nation. The MUTTON-HF (Medically Utilized Tailored Traditional foods to Optimize Nutrition in Heart Failure) trial, funded by the American Heart Association with anchor funding from The Rockefeller Foundation, showed that participants receiving eight weeks of medically tailored meals featuring traditional Navajo foods experienced a 28% relative reduction in all-cause emergency room visits or hospitalizations within 90 days.
Among 206 adults from two Indian Health Service sites in rural Navajo Nation, 40.6% of those in the intervention group experienced a hospitalization or ER visit, compared to 57.0% in the usual care group. All-cause hospitalizations were cut by more than half (12.3% vs. 26.0%), and heart failure-specific hospitalizations dropped from 13.0% to 3.8%. Participants also lost an average of 6.3 pounds more than controls and had significant reductions in systolic blood pressure, along with healthier eating patterns including increased fruit and vegetable consumption.
The program was developed through extensive community engagement, including listening sessions and surveys with Navajo community members. Navajo dietitians, local farmers and ranchers, and Tocabe, a Native-owned kitchen, collaborated to create meals that honored traditional foods while meeting American Heart Association heart-healthy guidelines. To overcome geographic barriers, the program established food distribution hubs, mini-hubs, and home delivery, and provided appliances like microwaves, freezers, and propane-powered refrigeration for households without reliable electricity.
“This trial provides strong evidence that a culturally grounded, medically tailored Indigenous food is medicine intervention can improve both health outcomes and social determinants of health,” said Kevin Volpp, M.D., Ph.D., American Heart Association’s Health Care by Food scientific lead. Lead author Lauren Eberly, M.D., MPH, added, “By combining traditional Indigenous foods with evidence-based nutrition support, we were able to improve health outcomes while honoring culture, identity and community knowledge.”
The study was part of the Heart Association’s Health Care by FoodTM (HCXF) initiative, which has received anchor funding from The Rockefeller Foundation. This initiative funds research and policy analysis to advance food is medicine interventions. The findings underscore the potential of culturally relevant programs to address diet-related diseases and improve quality of life, as participants reported better overall health status, physical functioning, and social participation.
