Extreme Morphology and Metabolic Health

Overview

Researchers at the University of Bath are investigating the metabolism of individuals with extreme body size, including those with skeletal dysplasia (commonly known as dwarfism), to manage health risks such as heart disease. By better understanding how body size could change how the body processes food, or how being bigger or smaller may influence eating habits, healthy living guidelines to tackle issues such as obesity and overweight in these populations can be improved. With help from expertise in the psychology field, this research will also investigate whether the mental health of these individuals has been affected by their size. On the whole, this study will involve one 24-hour visit to a research laboratory at the University of Bath, followed by a 2-week monitoring period to capture 'normal' physical activity and eating routines.

After signing informed consent to take part in the study, participants will be asked to complete a health entry criteria questionnaire, including a physical activity readiness questionnaire and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, to confirm eligibility. Participants will also be required to complete a health questionnaire for administration of anaesthetic as part of the biopsy procedure. Individuals who are very small or very big (without skeletal dysplasia) will be asked to attend the laboratory for a pre-trial screening as an additional eligibility criterion. This will involve measuring height, body mass, and standing on a specialised scale (bioelectrical impedance scale) which estimates how much muscle and fat someone has. If it is suspected that the participant meets the stated fat-free mass criteria, a complete a full body Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan to assess body composition more accurately will be completed. This involves lying flat on a bed for \~7 minutes and resting whilst the scan takes place. The research team will then inform the participant after analysing the scan results if they are eligible and can continue with the study. All participants deemed eligible who are able and willing to take part will be invited to attend the University of Bath Human Physiology Laboratory for the full trial. On day 1, prior to attending the University of Bath participants will be asked to eat a standardised diet of a cereal breakfast, and a supermarket purchased sandwich, drink and snack meal deal for lunch, with self-selected quantities. Participants will ideally be fasted for 4-5 hours before arrival (\~17:00). Upon arrive at the University, individuals with skeletal dysplasia will also be asked to complete the health entry criteria questionnaire and physical activity readiness questionnaire to ensure eligibility. It is important that participants let the researchers know of any medical conditions or any change in circumstance since signing up. All information is strictly confidential. The research team will first take measurements of height, body mass, waist and hip circumference, abdomen diameter (distance from your front to back), sitting height and blood pressure. Early into the visit, participants will also be briefed on collecting urine into provided containers. Individuals with skeletal dysplasia will then have a Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) scan to assess body composition. All participants will also have a Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT) scan which involves placing one leg into a round scanner to assess the tissues in your leg e.g., bone, muscle and fat (as if the image were a slice). The scan requires you to keep your leg still for \~10 minutes. Participants will then be asked to rest in a bed and relax. In a seated position, participants will complete a lung function test at rest which requires blowing into a specialised device through a mouthpiece. Following this, after lying down and being briefed on the procedure, a trained member of staff will take a fat tissue biopsy from the abdomen to analyse genes and proteins in the cells. The fat biopsy involves inserting a needle with suction just below the skin to extract the cells and will be performed under local anaesthetic. This procedure may cause a bruise for up to 7 days. Following on from this, a muscle biopsy will be taken from the quadriceps (large muscle on the front of the thigh) to again measure genes and proteins as well as signalling pathways involved in our metabolism. The needle is inserted just inside the muscle and 2/3 snips of tissue are collected. The research team will provide information and equipment for aftercare of the biopsy sites to prevent infection after participants leave the laboratory. Participants will then be provided with a hot meal for dinner. This will be a standard portion of Sainsbury's Love Your Veg! Lentil Cottage Pie (400 g, serves 1). Prior to turning the lights out at 22:00, participants will be fitted with sleep monitoring kit known as polysomnography. The equipment includes an abdominal and chest pressure sensing band, a nasal cannula and some sticky sensors placed directly on the skin. On the morning of day 2, a researcher will wake the participant at 07:00. Using a mouthpiece (alike to a snorkel) and nose clip, expired air at rest will be collected for 20 minutes to calculate how much energy is burnt at rest. Participants will also be asked to give a breath sample into a small glass tube through a straw (this is related to a tracer method explained below). Body mass will be measured again after the participant has an opportunity to use the bathroom. Once settled back in bed, a trained member of staff will insert a cannula (small plastic tube) into a vein on the back of the participant's hand or forearm. This will stay in place for the remainder of the day and allows repeated blood samples to be taken throughout the following tests. For participants with skeletal dysplasia, the genetic material found in cells will be taken out of the first blood sample and later analysed to confirm a correct diagnosis of achondroplasia. Participants will be asked to place the hand in a warm box set at 55°C which helps blood flow and makes taking samples easier for the research team. All participants will then be asked to complete a series of appetite questions, a portion selection task, and blood pressure will be taken. When the hand is warm and initial appetite tasks are completed, participants will be provided with a sugary drink and asked to finish it within 5 minutes. The drink will also contain a sugar tracer which is stable and safe-to-consume. This allows the research team to assess how the drink is being processed by the body in real time. For a few individuals from each 'subgroup' (achondroplasia, skeletal dysplasia, extremely large body size, and extremely small body size), a different tracer called acetate will be added to the drink which will help with some calculations of how the body processes the sugar. Blood samples (10 mL) will be drawn from the cannula every 15 minutes for the first hour, and 30 minutes for the next two hours. At these same intervals, the participant will be asked to blow into a small tube using a straw to assess the appearance of the tracer on the breath (an indicator of how much sugar is being burnt from the drink, as opposed to the body's sugar stores, hence the need for a baseline sample). Participants will also be asked to complete the appetite questions and portion selection task whenever a blood sample is drawn. At 60, 120 and 180 minutes, a one 5-minute sample of air will be collected just as upon waking, and blood pressure will be measured on the hour. In between samples the participant may also complete a series of questionnaires regarding mental health (optional). At 11:00, participants will be presented with another appetite task and then a lunch meal (pesto pasta with cheese, and a glass of orange juice) to consume within 20-minutes. A few additional appetite questions will be asked pre- and post- meal consumption. The following 3 hours will be similar to before, with regular appetite scales to complete, and blood samples drawn every 15 minutes for the first hour, and 30 minutes for the next two hours. At 60, 120 and 180 minutes, one 5-minute breath sample and a smaller tracer breath sample through the straw will be collected, and blood pressure recorded. Participants will then be asked to complete a short treadmill test to calibrate the activity monitor by wearing a heart rate monitor on a chest strap whilst walking. Five 3-minute incremental stages will be calculated based on the participants 'normal' self-selected walking speed. During the final minute of each stage, a one-minute breath sample will be collected and heart rate recorded. A breath sample into a tracer collection tube will also be obtained at the end of each exercise stage. Whilst on the treadmill, participants will be asked to describe how difficult the exercise stages feel. If the fastest speed has not exceeded 'hard' exercise, the researcher will ask if the participant feels able to complete a final stage at a higher intensity (not exceeding a rating of perceived exertion of 15) to assist calibration of the activity monitor. Within 30 seconds of finishing on the treadmill one final blood sample will be drawn from the cannula before removing it. On leaving the lab, participants will be provided with an activity monitor, a motion watch, a food diary (either on a mobile app or paper copy), and food and body weight scales. A small device to continuously measure blood sugar levels will also be fitted to the back of the arm. The device is inserted with a very small needle which is then removed, leaving only the patch with a small probe in the arm. The research team will instruct participants on how to wear the activity monitor on the chest and ask that participant wear this at all times other than when swimming or bathing, and record food intake for 14-days. During this time, participants will be asked to weigh themselves first thing in the morning and last thing at night, as well as recording sleep times and quality.