- Title
- An investigation of body composition in people with and without Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Creator
- Smart, Joanne Margaret
- Relation
- University of Newcastle Research Higher Degree Thesis
- Resource Type
- thesis
- Date
- 2013
- Description
- Masters Research - Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
- Description
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic lung disease, characterised by poorly reversible airflow limitation that is usually progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases, particularly cigarette smoke. The primary risk factor for COPD is cigarette smoking. Airway and systemic inflammation are features of COPD. The increasing prevalence and burden of COPD leads us to look at other factors that may influence the development and progression of COPD. Body composition, in particular low levels of fat free mass (FFM) is associated with worse survival and/or severity of COPD. Determinants of body composition include lifestyle factors such as dietary intake, physical activity patterns and smoking status, as well as age and gender. This thesis aimed to firstly examine the association between body composition, inflammation and lung function in healthy controls versus ex-smokers with or without COPD (Chapter 2). Secondly, it aimed to examine dietary intake, physical activity and inflammation as determinants of body composition in ex-smokers (Chapter 3). In Chapter 2, positive associations were observed between total and regional lean muscle mass and bone mineral content (BMC) and lung function in exsmokers. Conversely negative associations were observed between body fat mass and lung function in ex-smokers. An increase in body mass index (BMI) was associated with an increase in body fat, lean muscle mass and BMC in ex smokers without COPD. This was not seen in those with COPD, with the presence of disease appearing to modify the effects of weight gain. Lean muscle mass was also associated with better perceived quality of life and found to be negatively associated with systemic inflammation (CRP, IL-6, leptin). In Chapter 3, a positive association between lean muscle mass and dietary intake of nutrients found in fruit, vegetables, whole grains and fish was identified. Conversely, a negative association was observed between total body fat mass and dietary intake of nutrients found in fruit, vegetables, whole grains and fish. Dietary fat intake, physical activity and systemic inflammation were strong predictors of total body lean and fat mass in ex-smokers, but were not predictors of total body BMC. The protective effect of a high BMI in COPD does not appear to be due to an increase in fat mass but due to the presence of lean muscle mass. Reducing dietary fat intake, increasing physical activity and reducing systemic inflammation were identified as potential modifiable factors to improve and maintain lean muscle mass in ex-smokers. Assessment of diet and physical activity should be included in the management and care of those at risk of and those with COPD. Interventions targeting inflammation such as statins, omega-3 fatty and antioxidants may further improve outcomes in those ex-smokers with COPD.
- Subject
- COPD; body composition; smoking; lung function
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1037978
- Identifier
- uon:13502
- Rights
- Copyright 2013 Joanne Margaret Smart
- Language
- eng
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| Thumbnail | File | Description | Size | Format | |||
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| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT01 | Abstract | 181 KB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download | ||
| View Details Download | ATTACHMENT02 | Thesis | 1 MB | Adobe Acrobat PDF | View Details Download |