Dietary manipulation and testosterone replacement therapy may explain changes in body composition after spinal cord injury: A retrospective case report

BACKGROUND Reduced level of physical activity,high-fat diet and skeletal muscle atrophy are key factors that are likely to contribute to deleterious changes in body composition and metabolic following spinal cord injury (SCI).Reduced caloric intake with lowering percentage macronutrients of fat and increasing protein intake may likely to improve body composition parameters and decrease ectopic adiposity after SCI.AIM To highlight the effects of dietary manipulation and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on body composition after SCI METHODS A 31-year-old male with T5 SCI was administered transdermal TRT daily for 16 wk.Caloric intake and percentage macronutrients were analyzed using dietary recalls.Magnetic resonance imaging and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry were used to measure changes in body composition.RESULTS Caloric intake and fat percentage were reduced by 445 kcal/d and 6.5%,respectively.Total body weight decreased by 8%,body fat decreased by 29%,and lean mass increased by 7%.Thigh subcutaneous adipose tissue cross-sectional area was reduced by 31%.CONCLUSION Manipulation of caloric intake,fat percentage,and protein percentage may have influenced body composition after SCI.

Long-term effect of intrathecal baclofen treatment on bone health and body composition after spinal cord injury:A case matched report

BACKGROUND Severe spasticity may negatively impact functionality and quality of life after spinal cord injury(SCI).Intrathecal baclofen treatment(IBT)is effectively used to manage severe spasticity and reduce comorbidities.However,long-term IBT may have a negative effect on bone mineral content(BMC),bone mineral density(BMD)and body composition(such as percentage fat mass and lean body mass).We demonstrated the negative effects of long-term IBT use in a single case compared with two non-IBT users.CASE SUMMARY A 46-year old Caucasian male Veteran(case)with a 21 year history of complete tetraplegia(complete C6 SCI)was implanted with IBT for 20 years.The case was matched to two participants with different time since injuries[2(match 1)and 13(match 2)years]without IBT.Knee BMC and BMD at the epiphysis and metaphysis of the distal femur and proximal tibia were evaluated using dual knee and the dual femur modules of GE Lunar iDXA software.Total and leg body composition assessments were also conducted for the three participants.Potential effect of long-term IBT was demonstrated by changes in BMD,consistent with bone demineralization,at the distal femur and proximal tibia and changes in percentage fat mass and lean mass of legs.The case showed 113%lower BMD at the distal femur,and 78.1%lower at the proximal tibia compared to match 1,moreover the case showed 45%lower BMD at the distal femur,and no observed changes at the proximal tibia compared to match 2.The case had 27.1%and 16.5%greater leg%fat mass compared to match 1 and match 2,respectively.Furthermore,the case had 17.4%and 11.8%lower%leg lean mass compared to match 1 and match 2,respectively.CONCLUSION Long-term IBT may impact bone health and body composition parameters in persons with complete SCI.It may be prudent to encourage regular screening of individuals on long-term IBT considering the prevalence of osteoporosis related fractures,cardiovascular diseases,and metabolic disorders in this population.