A high-protein diet or combination exercise training to improve metabolic health in individuals with long-standing spinal cord injury: a pilot randomized study

Physiol Rep, 2018 · DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13813 · Published: August 1, 2018

Spinal Cord Injury Endocrinology Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study investigates how a high-protein diet and a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise affect metabolic health in people with long-term spinal cord injuries. The goal was to see if these interventions could improve body composition and metabolic profiles. Participants were divided into two groups: one following a high-protein diet and the other participating in a combined exercise program involving both upper and lower body workouts with electrical stimulation. Researchers measured changes in body composition, glucose levels, inflammation, and muscle tissue. The results showed that both the high-protein diet and the combined exercise regimen may help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation in individuals with spinal cord injuries. These findings suggest potential benefits for managing metabolic health in this population.

Study Duration

8 weeks

Participants

11 participants with SCI (HP diet: n = 5; Comb-Ex: n = 6)

Evidence Level

Level 2: Randomized controlled pilot study

Key Findings

1
Fasting plasma glucose levels decreased in the combined exercise group compared to the high-protein diet group.
2
A decrease in areas under the curve for insulin and TNF-a concentrations was observed for all participants regardless of group assignment.
3
The change in insulin sensitivity, as measured by the Matsuda Index, was clinically meaningful only in the high-protein diet group.

Research Summary

This pilot study compared the effects of an 8-week high-protein diet versus a combined exercise regimen on metabolic health in individuals with long-standing spinal cord injury (SCI). Both the high-protein diet and combined exercise regimen showed potential in improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing TNF-a concentrations in individuals with SCI. The study suggests that these interventions could be beneficial for managing metabolic health in this population, warranting further investigation into the optimal strategies.

Practical Implications

Improved Metabolic Health

High-protein diets and combined exercise may help manage insulin sensitivity and reduce inflammation in individuals with SCI, potentially decreasing the risk of metabolic disorders.

Personalized Interventions

The study highlights the potential for personalized interventions, as the high-protein diet showed a clinically meaningful improvement in insulin sensitivity, while combined exercise reduced fasting glucose levels.

Further Research

Future research should explore the combined effects of high-protein diets and exercise and address the study's limitations to confirm these findings and develop more effective strategies.

Study Limitations

1
Small sample size may limit the power to detect significant changes.
2
Weight loss in the high-protein diet group makes it difficult to determine if the observed improvements were due to the diet or weight loss.
3
Lack of a no-intervention control group makes it impossible to know how the reported outcomes would change over time without a diet or exercise intervention.

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