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Higher dietary protein intake preserves lean body mass, lowers liver lipid deposition, and maintains metabolic control in participants with long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders.

Journal of inherited metabolic disease
September 1, 2019
Melanie B Gillingham et al. (7 authors)
Journal ArticleRandomized Controlled TrialResearch Support, N.I.H., ExtramuralHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to compare the effects of a high-protein diet versus a high-carbohydrate diet, both supplemented with medium-chain triglycerides, on metabolic control, body composition, and liver fat in patients with long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders (LC-FAODs).

Results Summary

Both diets maintained metabolic control without worsening LC-FAOD symptoms. The high-protein diet reduced liver fat and preserved lean body mass, while the high-carbohydrate diet led to lean mass loss.

Population

Patients diagnosed with long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders (LC-FAODs).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

4 months

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (19)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
high-protein (PRO) diet
increase
blood levels of short-chain acylcarnitines
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
exhibited increased
#1
high-protein (PRO) diet
decrease
intrahepatic lipid content
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
reduced
#2
high-protein (PRO) diet
no change
lean body mass
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
maintained
#3
high-carbohydrate (CHO) diet
decrease
lean mass
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
lost
#4
increasing protein intake
no change
metabolic control
patients with LC-FAODs
-
maintained
#5
increasing protein intake
decrease
liver fat
patients with LC-FAODs
-
reduced
#6
increasing protein intake
no change
lean body mass
patients with LC-FAODs
-
helped preserve
#7
modest increase in dietary protein along with fasting avoidance and fat restriction
increase
body composition
patients with LC-FAODs
-
may improve
#8
modest increase in dietary protein along with fasting avoidance and fat restriction
increase
energy expenditure
patients with LC-FAODs
-
may improve
#9
high-protein (PRO) diet
no change
energy expenditure
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
had similar
#10
high-carbohydrate (CHO) diet
no change
energy expenditure
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
had similar
#11
high-protein (PRO) diet
no change
fat oxidation rates
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
had similar
#12
high-carbohydrate (CHO) diet
no change
fat oxidation rates
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
had similar
#13
high-protein (PRO) diet
no change
glucose oxidation rates
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
had similar
#14
high-carbohydrate (CHO) diet
no change
glucose oxidation rates
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
had similar
#15
high-protein (PRO) diet
no change
glucolipid responses to mixed meal and oral glucose loads
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
had similar
#16
high-carbohydrate (CHO) diet
no change
glucolipid responses to mixed meal and oral glucose loads
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
had similar
#17
high-protein (PRO) diet
no change
symptoms related to their LC-FAOD
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
experienced no worsening
#18
high-carbohydrate (CHO) diet
no change
symptoms related to their LC-FAOD
participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs
-
experienced no worsening
#19
Abstract

Medical nutrition therapy for long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorders (LC-FAODs) currently emphasizes fasting avoidance, restricted dietary long-chain fatty acid intake, supplementation with medium chain triglycerides, and increased carbohydrate intake. We hypothesize that increasing dietary protein intake relative to carbohydrate intake would preserve metabolic control yet induce physical benefits including reduced hepatic lipogenesis. Therefore, we compared two dietary approaches with similar fat intake but different carbohydrate to protein ratios in participants diagnosed with LC-FAODs. Thirteen participants were enrolled and randomized into either a high-protein (PRO) or a high-carbohydrate (CHO) diet for 4 months. Baseline and 4-month assessments included body composition, ectopic lipid deposition, and resting energy expenditure. End of study assessments also included total energy expenditure, metabolic responses to oral feedings, and whole-body fatty acid oxidation capacity. At the end of the dietary intervention, both groups had similar energy expenditure, fat and glucose oxidation rates, and glucolipid responses to mixed meal and oral glucose loads. Neither dietary group experienced worsening symptoms related to their LC-FAOD. Compared to the CHO group, the PRO group exhibited increased blood levels of short-chain acylcarnitines, reduced intrahepatic lipid content, and maintained lean body mass while the CHO group lost lean mass. In patients with LC-FAODs, increasing protein intake maintained metabolic control, reduced liver fat without risk of metabolic decompensation, and helped preserve lean body mass. We propose that a modest increase in dietary protein along with fasting avoidance and fat restriction may improve body composition and energy expenditure in patients with LC-FAODs.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdolescentAdultBody CompositionChildDietary CarbohydratesDietary ProteinsEnergy MetabolismFatty AcidsFemaleGlucoseHumansLipid MetabolismLipid Metabolism, Inborn ErrorsLiverMaleOxidation-ReductionTriglyceridesYoung Adult
Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy80/10
Quality75/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations8
Citations/Year1.3
Relative Citation Ratio0.55
NIH Percentile30%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.25
Weight Score2.04
Normalized Score0.81
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