Premorbid obesity, but not nutrition, prevents critical illness-induced muscle wasting and weakness.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The 'obesity paradox' of critical illness refers to better survival with a higher body mass index. We hypothesized that fat mobilized from excess adipose tissue during critical illness provides energy more efficiently than exogenous macronutrients and could prevent lean tissue wasting.

Methods

In lean and premorbidly obese mice, the effect of 5 days of sepsis-induced critical illness on body weight and composition, muscle wasting, and weakness was assessed, each with fasting and parenteral feeding. Also, in lean and overweight/obese prolonged critically ill patients, markers of muscle wasting and weakness were compared.

Results

In mice, sepsis reduced body weight similarly in the lean and obese, but in the obese with more fat loss and less loss of muscle ma

SUBMITTER: Goossens C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5326828 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature