An Indigenous Food Is Medicine Intervention: The MUTTON-HF Randomized Clinical Trial - Takeaways - MDSpire
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A Food as Medicine Approach for Indigenous Populations: Results from the MUTTON-HF Randomized Clinical Trial

  • By

  • Lauren A. Eberly

  • Carmen George

  • Sharon Sandman

  • Denee Bex

  • Karianne Jones

  • Asia Yazzie

  • Leah Gray

  • Larissa Morgan

  • Ada Tennison

  • Conor Williams

  • Matt Chandra

  • Rebecca Wickre

  • Bennett Wickre

  • Mackenzie Bolas

  • Remi Welbel

  • Delaney Ignace

  • Benjamin Feliciano

  • Stacy Hammer

  • DezBaa Damon-Mallette

  • Erica Lindsey

  • Paula Mora

  • Aijun Ye

  • Maricruz Merino

  • Enrique F. Schisterman

  • Sonya S. Shin

  • September 1, 2026

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  • 1

    Cardiovascular health inequities in Indigenous communities stem from historical consequences of settler colonialism and nutrition insecurity.

  • 2

    The MUTTON-HF trial tested a culturally tailored meal program aimed at reducing hospitalizations and emergency visits among heart failure patients.

  • 3

    The intervention included 14 culturally and medically tailored meals weekly, focusing on traditional Navajo foods and nutritional guidelines.

  • 4

    Participants were recruited from two Indian Health Service sites, with eligibility based on heart failure diagnosis and recent healthcare encounters.

  • 5

    Outcomes measured included hospitalization rates, emergency department visits, and changes in various health metrics over 90 days.

Original Source(s)

An Indigenous Food Is Medicine Intervention: The MUTTON-HF Randomized Clinical Trial

  • by Lauren A. Eberly, Carmen George, Sharon Sandman, Denee Bex, Karianne Jones, Asia Yazzie, Leah Gray, Larissa Morgan, Ada Tennison, Conor Williams, Matt Chandra, Rebecca Wickre, Bennett Wickre, Mackenzie Bolas, Remi Welbel, Delaney Ignace, Benjamin Feliciano, Stacy Hammer, DezBaa Damon-Mallette, Erica Lindsey, Paula Mora, Aijun Ye, Maricruz Merino, Enrique F. Schisterman, Sonya S. Shin

  • September 1, 2026

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