Utilizing a low-carbohydrate/high-protein diet to improve metabolic health in individuals with spinal cord injury (DISH): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Article presents the protocol for a study to investigate whether an 8-week low-carbohydrate/high-protein (LC/HP) dietary intervention will show improvements in metabolic function, body composition, the composition of gut bacteria, and quality of life in people with spinal cord injury (SCI). One hundred participants with chronic traumatic SCI (3 years postinjury, C5-L2, American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale A-D, and aged 18-65 years) and insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance or untreated type 2 diabetes will be randomized to an 8-week LC/HP dietary intervention group or a control group. The daily LC/HP dietary intervention includes about 30 percent total energy as protein with a carbohydrate-to-protein ratio less than 1.5 and fat intake set at about 30 percent of the total energy intake. The control group does not receive any dietary intervention and are continuing with their regular daily diets. Glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, β-cell function, body composition, gut microbiome composition, and quality of life measures are assessed at week 1, before starting the LC/HP dietary intervention, and at week 8, after completion of the LC/HP dietary intervention. New information derived from this project will result in the development of a low-cost, simple, self-administered LC/HP dietary intervention for improving metabolic function in individuals with chronic SCI. The findings will improve understanding of the composition of gut bacteria in SCI, and how a LC/HP dietary intervention alters gut bacteria composition. In addition, this study will clarify the relationship between metabolic function and quality of life in individuals with long-standing SCI.
Author(s):
Yarar-Fisher, Ceren |Li, Jia |McLain, Amie |Gower, Barbara |Oster, Robert |Morrow, Casey|
