Cardiac dysfunction during sepsis is due, at least in part, to cardiac energy deficiency. It has been discovered that lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated cardiac dysfunction is prevented or treated by treatments that improve FA oxidation (FAO), despite the persistence of inflammation. The present invention relates to methods for increasing or maintaining cardiac function in a subject, by administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agent that increases fatty acid oxidation in the heart.
