Alternative Health Blog

In a prospective, randomized trial involving 32 moderate to severe, clinically stable, malnourished patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 12 weeks of nutritional supplementation and low-intensity exercise was found to be associated with increases in body weight, FFM, dietary intake energy, quadriceps muscle force, and 6-min walking distance, decreases in the REE:REEpred ratio, improvements in dyspnea and overall health status assessed via the Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire (CRQ). In addition, significant decreases in hsCRP, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha were found. The authors conclude, "The present study results suggest a potential role for the combination of nutritional supplementation and low-intensity exercise in the management of malnourished patients with COPD." Reference:    "Effects of nutritional supplementation combined with low-intensity exercise in malnourished patients with COPD," Sugawara K, Takahashi H, et al, Respir Med, 2010 June 3; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Department of Rehabilitation, Akita City General Hospital, Akita, Japan).