Nutritional repletion in malnourished patients with emphysema

We examined the effect of nutritional supplementation for 13 wk on anthropometric, pulmonary function, and immunological status in malnourished ambulant patients with pulmonary emphysema (EP). The study was placebo controlled, randomized and double blind. Twenty-eight patients were included. Thirteen patients in the fed group were provided with a nutritional formula providing 20% protein, 30% fat, and 50% carbohydrate, 1 Kcal/ml, 400 ml/day. The control group was provided with a reference product of the same consistency and taste containing 0.1 Kcal/ml, 400 ml/day for 13 wk. The fed group had a mean weight gain of 1.5 kg during the study period, the control group increased concomitantly 0.16 kg, the difference being significant (p less than 0.01). Sum of four skinfolds increased 2.7 mm in the fed group, and decreased 0.9 mm in the control group the difference being significant (p less than 0.01). No difference were observed regarding pulmonary function or immunological status. We also found a high habitual energy intake in our study group (204% Basal Energy Expenditure). We conclude that nutritional supplementation produce weight gain in malnourished patients with EP, but it does not change other indices of well-being.