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Little effect of physical training on body composition and nutritional intake following colorectal surgery—a randomised placebo-controlled trial

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 59, pages 969–977 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

Postoperatively patients have a reduction in nutritional intake and body weight. We studied the effect of postoperative physical training on nutritional intake and body composition.

Methods:

Patients ⩾60 y admitted for elective colorectal surgery were randomised to train muscular strength (group A) or to nonstrengthening exercises (group B) for 3 months. Fat mass (FM) and lean body mass (LBM) were assessed with bioimpedance preoperatively, 7, 30, and 90 days postoperatively. Nutritional intake was registered in a subpopulation.

Results:

Of 119 included patients, 60 were randomised to group A and 59 to B. The changes in LBM at postoperative day 7 were a mean (s.d.) of 0.4 (2.1) kg in group A compared to −0.7 (2.0) kg in B. The difference between groups of 1.2 (0.5) kg at day 7 was statistically significant (P=0.03). At no other time was observed difference between groups in weight, LBM, or FM. The energy and protein intake rose during postoperative day 1–7 and rose further after discharge. At no time were differences between groups.

Conclusion:

Physical training had little effect on body composition following abdominal surgery. The nutritional intake in well-nourished patients did not increase by training.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by The Danish Research Agency (Grant # 22-00-0163), The Danish Cancer Society (Grant # 99 100 02), The Danish Health Insurance Foundation (Grant # 11/247-98, 11/243-99, 2000B5049), and The Danish Cancer Society's Clinical Research Unit in Aarhus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery L, Surgical Research Unit, University Hospital of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark

    K B Houborg, M B Jensen, Ib Hessov & S Laurberg

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  1. K B Houborg
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  2. M B Jensen
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  3. Ib Hessov
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  4. S Laurberg
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to K B Houborg.

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Guarantor: KB Houborg.

Contributors: KBH, MBJ, IH and SL carried out the design of the experiment. KBH was largely responsible for the analyses, while the other authors gave advice on the anlyses. KBH was the primary investigator and the main writer and MBJ the contributory writer. The other two authors provided writing counselling. MBJ and IH also engaged in the interpretation of data.

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Houborg, K., Jensen, M., Hessov, I. et al. Little effect of physical training on body composition and nutritional intake following colorectal surgery—a randomised placebo-controlled trial. Eur J Clin Nutr 59, 969–977 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602198

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