High-Protein Diet and HMB Supplementation in Patients With Heart Failure

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effects of a high-protein diet with or without HMB supplementation compared with a normoprotein diet on clinical, nutritional, and functional outcomes in patients with heart failure. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does a normocaloric high-protein diet improve muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical function compared with a normocaloric normoprotein diet after 8 weeks? 2. Does adding 3 g/day of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) to a normocaloric high-protein diet provide additional benefits for muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical function compared with a normocaloric high-protein diet alone? 3. Do these nutritional interventions improve renal function, inflammatory and clinical biomarkers, functional status, and quality of life after 8 weeks? Researchers will compare three groups (normocaloric normoprotein diet, normocaloric high-protein diet, and normocaloric high-protein diet plus HMB supplementation) to determine the effects of these interventions on clinical, nutritional, and functional outcomes. Participants will: * Be randomly assigned to one of the three study groups * Receive individualized dietary counseling according to their assigned intervention * Receive one study sachet daily containing either an HMB-enriched nutritional supplement (providing 3 g/day of HMB) or a matched placebo, according to the assigned study group * Undergo assessments of muscle mass, muscle strength, physical function, renal function, inflammatory and clinical biomarkers, and quality of life at baseline, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 years or older; * Male or female; * Diagnosis of chronic heart failure for at least 3 months, established according to the Brazilian Guidelines for Chronic and Acute Heart Failure and confirmed by medical records. Exclusion Criteria: * Chronic kidney disease stage 3b or higher; * Listed for heart transplantation; * Hospitalization for decompensated heart failure within the previous 3 months; * Active cancer treatment or cancer treatment within the previous 5 years; * History of alcohol or illicit drug abuse within the previous 12 months; * Chronic use of anti-inflammatory drugs, anticonvulsants, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive agents; * Pregnancy or breastfeeding; * Wheelchair use preventing anthropometric assessment; * Current use of protein supplements; * Participation in another randomized clinical trial with interventions that may interfere with the primary outcome.