Characterization of nonresponse to high caloric oral nutritional therapy in depleted patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Nutritional support can increase body weight and physiologic function in CO PD, but there are some patients who do not respond to nutritional therapy. The aim of this prospective study was to describe the nonresponse to 8 wk o f oral nutritional supplementation therapy (500 to 750 kcal/d extra), imple mented in an inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program, with respect to lu ng function, body composition, energy balance, and systemic inflammatory pr ofile in 24 (16 male) depleted patients with COPD. On the basis of the weig ht change after 8 wk, patients were divided into three groups (Group 1: wei ght gain < 2% of baseline body weight, n = 5; Group 2: weight gain 2 to 5%, n = 9; Group 3: weight gain greater than or equal to 5%, n = 10). Although no differences were seen in lung function and body composition, Group 1 wa s characterized by older age, a lower baseline dietary intake/resting energ y expenditure (REE) ratio, and a greater number of users of continuous supp lemental oxygen when compared with Group 3. In addition, Group 1 exhibited higher baseline concentrations of fasting glucose and LPS-binding protein t han did Groups 2 and 3. The concentrations of the soluble TNF-receptors 55 and 75 were elevated in Groups 1 and 2 when compared with Group 3. Furtherm ore, a significant, inverse correlation coefficient between baseline dietar y intake and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule was revealed (r = -0.5 0, p = 0.016). On linear regression analysis, age, baseline intake/REE rati o, sTNF-receptor 55, and extracellular/intracellular water (ECW/ICW) ratio were selected as independent, significant parameters contributing to a tota l explained variation of 78% in weight change after nutritional therapy. In conclusion, nonresponse to nutritional therapy in COPD is associated with ageing, relative anorexia, and an elevated systemic inflammatory response. Further research is needed to investigate whether these factors contribute to eventual disturbances in intermediary metabolism as reflected by the inc reased glucose concentration and ECW/ICW ratio.