The Functional, Metabolic, and Anabolic Responses to Exercise Training in Renal Transplant and Hemodialysis Patients

BACKGROUND.: Exercise intolerance is common in hemodialysis (HD) and renal transplant (RTx) patients and is related to muscle weakness. Its pathogenesis may vary between these groups leading to a different response to exercise. The aim of the study was to compare intrinsic muscular parameters between HD and RTx patients and controls, and to assess the response to exercise training on exercise capacity and muscular structure and function in these groups. METHODS.: Quadriceps function (isokinetic dynamometry), body composition (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), and vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were analyzed before and after a 12-week lasting training-program in 35 RTx patients, 16 HD patients, and 21 healthy controls. RESULTS.: At baseline, myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform composition and enzyme activities were not different between the groups. VO2peak and muscle strength improved significantly and comparably over the training-period in RTx, HD patients and controls (ptime<0.05). The proportion of MyHC type I isoforms decreased (ptime<0.001) and type IIa MyHC isoforms increased (ptime<0.05). The 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase activity increased (ptime=0.052). Intrinsic muscular changes were not significantly different between groups. In the HD group, changes in lean body mass were significantly related to changes in muscle insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-II and IGF binding protein-3. CONCLUSIONS.: Abnormalities in metabolic enzyme activities or muscle fiber redistribution do not appear to be involved in muscle dysfunction in RTx and HD patients. Exercise training has comparable beneficial effects on functional and intrinsic muscular parameters in RTx patients, HD patients, and controls. In HD patients, the anabolic response to exercise training is related to changes in the muscle IGF system

Nutritional considerations in renal transplant patients

Nutritional considerations in renal transplant patients. van den Ham EC, Kooman JP, van Hooff JP. Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands. [email protected] In renal transplant patients, weight gain generally increases after renal transplantation, which will be influenced by improved appetite and a reversal of the uremic state. However, at least in the early posttransplant period, the increase in body weight is mainly due to an increase in body fat mass. This phenomenon may be partly due to relatively high doses of steroids in the early period after renal transplantation, possibly mediated by their inhibiting effect on lipid peroxidation, but also appears to be related to physical inactivity. The increase in body fat mass may contribute to posttransplant hyperlipidemia, which is improved but not completely normalized by dietary intervention. Current dietary recommendations in stable renal transplant patients do not generally differ from those of the general population, although intense dietary counselling may be indicated in patients with excessive posttransplant weight gain. The effect of supervised exercise training on body composition is currently under investigation. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Base

The influence of early steroid withdrawal on body composition and bone mineral density in renal transplantation patients

The influence of early steroid withdrawal on body composition and bone mineral density in renal transplantation patients. van den Ham EC, Kooman JP, Christiaans ML, van Hooff JP. Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Maastricht, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands. [email protected] Corticosteroid treatment may have an important effect on body composition and bone mineral density (BMD) in renal transplantation (RTx) patients. We investigated the effect of early steroid withdrawal on body composition and BMD of RTx patients in a prospective design. Post-transplant immunosuppression consisted of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisolone. Three months after RTx, 27 patients participating in a multi-center trial were randomized either to continue steroids (at a dose of 10 mg/day, n=17; steroid+) or be withdrawn from steroids within 2 weeks (n=10; steroid-). Body composition and BMD (lumbar spine (L2-L4) and femoral neck) were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) just before and 3 months after randomization. With regard to body composition, fat mass tended to increase in the steroid+ group (1.1+/-2.3 kg; P=0.084), but did not change in the steroid- group. Increase in body fat percentage tended to be higher (P=0.08) in the steroid+ group (0.6+/-2.7%) than in the steroid- group (-0.7+/-2.1%). The change in lean body mass was not significantly different between the two groups. BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck decreased significantly in the steroid+ group (-1.4+/-3.2% and -2.3+/-2.9%, respectively, P<0.05) while no changes were observed in the steroid- group. The change in BMD of the lumbar spine was significantly different between the steroid+ and the steroid- group, whereas the change in BMD of the femoral neck was not significantly different. Thus, the increase in fat mass tended to be higher in the group continuing on steroids, though not significant, due to large inter-individual variation. In general, the effect of early steroid withdrawal on body composition after RTx appears to be modest. In addition, early steroid withdrawal seems to have beneficial effects on BMD in RTx patients, especially in the lumbar region

Relation between steroid dose, body composition and physical activity in renal transplant patients

Fat mass is increased in renal transplant (RTx) patients, which may have untoward metabolic and cardiovascular effects. The influence of steroids on body composition (BC), resting energy expenditure (REE), and substrate oxidation rates was assessed in stable RTx patients in a cross-sectional design. Also, the relation between physical activity and nutrient intake, respectively, and body composition was studied.77 RTx patients (42 males, 35 females) were studied. Twenty-one patients were on 10 mg and 27 patients on 5 mg maintenance steroid dose; 29 patients were receiving steroid-free immunosuppression. Assessed were BC (DEXA, anthropometry), REE and substrate oxidation (indirect calorimetry), physical activity (Baecke questionnaire), and nutrient intake (dietary records).BC was not different between the 0-, 5-, and 10-mg steroid group, and no relationship existed between cumulative dose of steroids and BC. REE and substrate oxidation also did not differ between the various groups, apart from a small increase in glucose and decrease in lipid oxidation in female patients using 5-mg steroids. Especially in females, leisure time physical activity was positively related with the percentage lean body mass (r=0.571, P=0.004) and inversely related with fat mass (r= -0.588, P=0.003). Nutrient intake and BC (corrected for physical activity) were not related.No relation was observed between daily and cumulative steroid dosage and BC and between daily steroid dose and REE and substrate oxidation in RTx patients. Especially in female patients, physical activity level and the percentage of lean body mass concluded and body fat were significantly related