A SkeleTal Muscle Recovery Intervention With Dietary Protein in Heart Failure

This study is testing whether a high-protein dietary supplement can help people with heart failure preserve or rebuild their muscle mass. Heart failure often leads to significant muscle loss (called cardiac cachexia), which worsens quality of life and outcomes. The study uses a body composition scan (DXA) to measure muscle changes. **You may be eligible if...** - You are 18 or older with heart failure and a low ejection fraction (reduced pumping function, ≤40%) - You are on optimal heart failure medications - You have had at least one marker of severe heart failure in the past year (such as hospitalization, very low exercise capacity, or significant unintentional weight loss) **You may NOT be eligible if...** - You are pregnant or planning to become pregnant - You have had a heart transplant or a ventricular assist device (LVAD) - You have severely reduced kidney function (eGFR below 20) - You have a known muscle-wasting condition unrelated to heart failure (like muscular dystrophy or active cancer) - You have a milk allergy, lactose intolerance, or galactosemia - You have severe obesity (BMI ≥40 or weight above 350 pounds) Talk to your doctor to see if this trial is right for you.