High Protein Diet and Physical Activity in COPD

The Effect of High Protein Diet in Combination With Physical Activity in the Rehabilitation of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) at Risk of Malnutrition- a Pilot Study

COPD outpatients with severe and very severe (grade III-IV) disease at risk of malnutrition commencing rehabilitation (7-10-week physical activity program) were randomized to receive a high protein diet (≥ 25 energy percentage) or standard care.

Peripheral muscle function was measured by 6MWD (6-meter-walk-distance) and handgrip strength; FFM was measured by bioimpedance, mid upper arm circumference, and mid-thigh circumference; quality of life was measured by CAT (????); and dyspnoea was measured by the Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale and Borg scores at baseline and after 12 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosed COPD stage III or stage IV
• Nutritional risk by screening (NRS-2002)(Kondrup et al, 2002) and/or low-fat free mass (FFMI) (≤ 15% for women and ≤ 16% for men) measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Terminal phase of COPD

• Lung transplanted patients

• Severe Comorbidities influenzing the end-points (pancreatic insufficiency, severe hepatic failure, inflammatory gastrointestinal disease)

  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Any unwillingness or inability (e.g. not able to make notes of their nutritional intake, come to consultations or manage oral intake)