Effects of whey protein complex combined with low-intensity exercise in elderly inpatients with COPD at a stable stage.

Min Zong, Honghua Shen, Lei Ren, Tao Han, Jie Chen, Yanqiu Chen, Jiashuo Lu, Yin Zhang, Shijie Li, Jianqin Sun

Journal: Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition 2023;32(4):375-382

PMID: 38135472

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Plain Language Summary

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterised by limited airflow and chronic airway inflammation, along with anxiety and depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of whey protein complex during low-intensity endurance or resistance exercise on patient outcomes such as improvement of weight, muscle mass, and muscle strength. This study was a randomised controlled trial with two arms: intervention group and control group. The patients in both intervention groups underwent 12- week supervised low-intensity exercise, but only the participants in the intervention group received whey protein supplements enriched with leucine. Results showed that hand-grip strength improved in both intervention groups while 6 minutes of walking distance improved only in the intervention group. Furthermore, the combination of whey proteins complex and exercise improved dyspnoea, a symptom of cough, anxiety, and body weight loss caused by PR in stable elderly patients with COPD. Authors concluded that whey protein complex combined with low-intensity exercise had good compliance in elderly patients to improve muscle function and pulmonary symptoms.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Previous literature mostly has demonstrated the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) combined with whole nutrition powder in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the benefits of whey protein as an oral nutritional supplement (ONS) during PR are not clear.

METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN

It took 12 weeks to complete the trial, we divided 90 elderly patients with stable-stage COPD into a low-intensity exercise group (n= 30, PR group), PR plus whey proteins complex group (n= 30, PRWP group), and a control group (n= 30) randomly, and assessed index such as exercise capacity, mental health status, lung function, and body composition. Eventually, 84 people persisted until the end of the trial.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, hand grip strength (HGS)(1.4 ± 0.6 kg, and 1.0 ± 0.2 kg respectively, p< 0.05) in the PRWP and PR group, 6 minutes of walking distance (6MWD)(14.1 ± 3.8m, p< 0.05) in PRWP group improved. Furthermore, compared with the PR group, Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (MRC)(-0.2 ± 0.1, p< 0.01), anxiety score (-1.2 ± 0.4, p< 0.01), and body weight (2.0 ± 0.8kg, p< 0.05) improved in the PRWP group. There were no inter-group differences in a fat-free mass index or appendicular skeletal muscle mass index.

CONCLUSIONS

Muscle strength could be enhanced in both intervention models. Adding whey protein complex was additionally successful in rectifying dyspnea, anxiety, and weight loss caused by exercise. This rehabilitation pattern might be valuable in elderly patients with COPD.

Address: Clinical nutrition center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China.; Department of Respiratory Rehabilitation, Shanghai Fourth Rehabilitation Hospital, China.; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Fourth Rehabilitation Hospital, China.; Geriatric Medicine department, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China.; Food hygiene and nutrition department, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China.; Clinical nutrition center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Email: [email protected].

DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.202312_32(4).0001