Preliminary evidence suggest that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) suffer from lower-limb muscle dysfunction. This may, at least in part, be due to a combination of physical inactivity and muscle oxidative stress. Pilot data (not published) clearly show that patients with COPD have significantly lower carnosine, which is a pH (acidity-basicity level) buffer and antioxidant, levels in the m. vastus lateralis compared to healthy subjects. Beta-alanine supplementation has shown to increase muscle carnosine in trained and untrained healthy subjects. This study will assess if muscle carnosine can be augmented by beta-alanine supplementation in 40 COPD patients (20 patients receive beta-alanine, 20 patients receive placebo). 10 healthy elderly controls will also be assessed to compare baseline muscle carnosine levels. The aims of this study are to: 1. Investigate baseline muscle carnosine levels to confirm the pilot data in a larger sample of patients with COPD compared with healthy elderly subjects 2. Investigate if beta-alanine supplementation augments muscle carnosine in COPD patients and whether it has an influence on exercise capacity, lower-limb muscle function and quality of life 3. To investigate baseline and post supplementation structural and metabolic muscle characteristics and markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in COPD patients and it's association with muscle carnosine levels
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
60
Patients receive beta-alanine
Patients receive placebo
Healthy controls will be assessed to compare baseline muscle carnosine levels
Jessa Ziekenhuis (ReGo)
Hasselt, Belgium
muscle carnosine
by means of high pressure liquid chromatography(HPLC)-analysis of a muscle biopsy
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
maximal exercise capacity
by means of an incremental maximal cycle test
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
submaximal exercise capacity
by means of a constant-work rate cycle test
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Functional exercise test 1
by means of a 6 minutes walk test
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Functional exercise test 2
by means of a 4 meter gait test
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Muscle function quadriceps
by means of measuring quadriceps (isometric and isokinetic knee extension-flexion)
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Respiratory muscle function
by means of measuring respiratory muscle strength (maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure)
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Muscle function hand grip
by means of measuring hand grip strength
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Muscle characteristics
Structural and metabolic parameters will be measured with dedicated methodology
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Blood parameters submaximal exercise test
by means of obtaining venous blood before, during and after the constant-work rate cycle test. Blood parameters will be measured with dedicated methodology.
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Blood parameters fasted state
by means of obtaining fasting venous blood. Blood parameters will be measured with dedicated methodology.
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Blood parameters maximal exercise test
by means of obtaining venous blood before and after the maximal cycle test. Blood parameters will be measured with dedicated methodology.
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Comorbidities
by means of Charlson Morbidity index
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Comorbidities: ankle-brachial pressure index
by means of ankle-brachial pressure index
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Comorbidities blood pressure
by means of resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Comorbidities body composition 1
by means of bio-electrical impedance
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Comorbidities body composition 2
by means of whole body dual X-ray absorptiometry
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Quality of life: anxiety and depression
by means of the "Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale"
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Quality of life: fatigue
by means of the "Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory"
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Quality of life: dyspnea
by means of the " Modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) dyspnea grade"
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Quality of life: general
by means of the "Euroqol 5 dimensions (EQ-5D) generic questionnaire"
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Quality of life: COPD
by means of the "COPD assessment test"
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Physical activity: accelerometer
by means of physical activity monitoring via Actigraph (accelerometer)
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Physical activity: questionnaire 1
by means of physical activity monitoring via "Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire"
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Physical activity: questionnaire 2
by means of physical activity monitoring via "Modified Baecke questionnaire"
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Lung function
by means of general pulmonary function (spirometry, long volumes, diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide).
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
Heart function
by means of resting ECG testing
Time frame: change from baseline to 12 weeks
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.