Background/Aims: There is a paucity of evidence to guide clinicians about appropriate nutritional management strategies for obese Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients.This study aimed to a) characterise nutritional biomarkers in obese COPD participants, and b) evaluate changes in nutritional biomarkers following a weight-loss intervention in obese COPD participants.
Methods: Nutritional biomarkers, plasma fatty acids (FAs) and carotenoids, were analysed using GC and HPLC respectively and compared in 10 healthy weight and 39 obese COPD adults. Of the obese COPD participants, 28 completed a weight-loss intervention. Changes in diet quality were examined using 4-day food records and nutritional biomarkers. Predictors of weight-loss were examined using multiple linear regression.
Results: There was a trend towards higher total plasma FAs (p=0.052) and carotenoids (p=0.094) in the obese group. Following the weight-loss intervention, significant decreases in total (p=0.009) and saturated (p=0.037) fat intake, and corresponding decreases in total (p=0.007) and saturated (p=0.003) plasma FAs were observed. There was a trend towards higher total plasma carotenoids post-intervention (p=0.078), with α-carotene (p=0.018) and β-carotene significantly increased (p=0.013). Older age (p=0.025), higher pre-intervention uncontrolled eating (p<0.001) and plasma carotenoids (p=0.009) predicted weight-loss.
Conclusion: This study provides data which contributes to the characterisation of nutritional biomarkers in obese COPD patients. We have also demonstrated the efficacy of a weight-loss intervention in improving diet quality in this population. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings, and examine the long-term efficacy of the weight-loss intervention.
Funding Source(s): John Hunter Hospital Charitable Trust Research Grants Scheme.