Adiponectin in spinal cord injury: What is the role of nutrition in serum adiponectin concentration?

Turk J Phys Med Rehab, 2024 · DOI: 10.5606/tftrd.2024.13946 · Published: December 19, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Nutrition & Dietetics Rehabilitation

Simple Explanation

This study explores the connection between a hormone called adiponectin, which is linked to metabolism, and diet in people with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Patients with chronic SCI are at high risk of metabolic issues, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. The researchers compared the levels of adiponectin in the blood of SCI patients to those of healthy individuals. They also looked at how closely the SCI patients followed the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, both considered healthy eating plans. The MD and DASH diets are well known for their cardiac and vascular protective effects. The study found that SCI patients had higher levels of adiponectin and better adherence to both diets compared to the healthy group. However, there wasn't a direct link between how well they followed the diets and their adiponectin levels. Future studies focused on the effect of a healthy diet intervention on serum adiponectin concentration is warranted.

Study Duration

Between March 2021 and March 2022

Participants

33 SCI patients and 33 healthy controls

Evidence Level

Cross-sectional study

Key Findings

1
SCI patients had significantly higher serum adiponectin concentrations than the control group.
2
Mediterranean diet scores and DASH diet scores of the patient group were significantly higher than the control group.
3
No correlation was detected between adiponectin concentration, MD score, and DASH diet score in both groups.

Research Summary

The study compared serum adiponectin concentration in SCI patients and healthy subjects, and the correlation between adiponectin concentration and healthy nutrition parameters. SCI patients had higher serum adiponectin concentrations, MD scores, and DASH diet scores compared to healthy subjects, but adiponectin levels weren't correlated with these diet scores. Anthropometric measurements showed differences between SCI patients and healthy subjects, with SCI patients having higher mid-upper arm, waist, hip, and neck circumferences.

Practical Implications

Further Research

Future studies should focus on the effect of a healthy diet intervention on serum adiponectin concentration in SCI patients.

Nutritional Strategies

Emphasize the importance of healthy eating habits, particularly adherence to MD and DASH diets, for SCI patients to potentially improve adiponectin concentrations.

Metabolic Health

The findings contribute to understanding the complex relationship between nutrition, adiponectin, and metabolic health in individuals with SCI.

Study Limitations

1
Body composition analysis would be valuable to assess total body fat and whole-body composition despite local anthropometric measurements.
2
Data collection about the physical activity of the control group would provide this comparison.
3
The inflammatory process in SCI may affect the relationship between nutrition and adiponectin concentrations.

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