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Malnutrition in Chronic Gastrointestinal Diseases, Cross-sectional Study

Completed
Conditions
Liver Cirrhoses
Chronic Pancreatitis
Short Bowel Syndrome
Interventions
Other: No intervention - cross-sectional observational only
Registration Number
NCT04474743
Lead Sponsor
University Medicine Greifswald
Brief Summary

Malnutrition and muscle wasting are common consequences of life-threatening, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Such diseases include liver cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis and short bowel syndrome. Malnutrition and muscle wasting increase the risk of complications, reduce the life expectancy and impair the quality of life. The development of malnutrition and muscle wasting is different, as is the diagnosis and nutritional treatment. There are also different mechanisms of origin for the underlying diseases. The aim of the study is to compare data related to nutrition and physical condition of patients with liver cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis and short bowel syndrome. Malnutrition and muscle wasting within the specific diseases will be characterized and possible correlations will be identified.

For this, malnourished and non-malnourished patients of the different diseases are compared with controls patients with non-specific complaints of the gastrointestinal tract as well as with healthy study participants.

Data on food intake, physical activity, body composition and body measurements as well as muscle strength and muscle function are recorded. Blood values as well as transport and barrier properties of the intestine will also be examined.

Detailed Description

Malnutrition and sarcopenia are consequences of life-threatening gastroenterological diseases such as liver cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis and short bowel syndrome and are associated with a poorer clinical outcome and a reduced quality of life. The diagnostic criteria of both conditions differ, as do the consequences for adequate nutritional therapy. Nevertheless, malnutrition and sarcopenia are often discussed in confusion in the literature. In addition, the underlying mechanisms of malnutrition and sarcopenia can differ in the various diseases. The aim of the study is to compare nutrition-associated parameters from patients with liver cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis and short bowel syndrome, to characterize the disease-specific phenotype of malnutrition and sarcopenia of the examined diseases and to obtain information on mechanistic relationships. The pathophysiological understanding of the clinical settings as well as the development of malnutrition and sarcopenia is important for choosing specific nutritional therapies. For this, malnourished and non-malnourished patients of each examined disease are compared with controls from patients with non-specific, abdominal symptoms and healthy control subjects. Data on food intake, physical activity, body composition and anthropometry as well as muscle strength and muscle function are recorded. Clinical and chemical blood parameters, the plasma metabolome as well as transport and barrier proteins of the intestine are also examined.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
345
Inclusion Criteria

Liver Cirrhosis:

  • based on clinical and imaging criteria (sonography or computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)) without evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Child-Pugh Stadium A-C

Chronic Pancreatitis:

  • based on imaging criteria (endoscopic ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP))
  • large and small duct disease
  • with or without exocrine insufficiency
  • with or without endocrine insufficiency
  • patients after left pancreatic resection or pancreaticojejunostomy or duodenal pancreatic head resection

Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS):

  • based on clinical anamnestic criteria and state after bowel resection followed by primary or secondary oral autonomy (intestinal failure)

Control Patients:

  • patients without known underlying gastroenterological disease with an indication for esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy for symptom clarification
  • negative Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS-2002 < 3)
  • gastroscopy without clinically relevant result (mild gastritis aspect, small axial hernia, typical glandular cysts, typical brunneromas can be included)
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1
Exclusion Criteria

General Exclusion Criteria:

  • parenteral nutrition in the previous 6 months
  • pacemaker or implanted defibrillator
  • pregnancy or lactation
  • lack of ability to answer the questionnaires
  • taking certain medications during the previous 4 weeks (protein pump inhibitors and H2 antagonists, except medication on demand or ≤ 4 weeks continuously, antibiotics, narcotics, non-opioid analgesics except medication on demand (≤ 1 day/week), anticholinergics, antidepressants, motility drugs (metoclopramide, motilium, bromocriptine, prucalopride), thyroid drugs except stable thyroid hormone substitution with euthyroid metabolism, steroids, immunomodulators, anti-inflammatory biologics)

Subsequent Exclusion of Control Patients:

  • if, contrary to expectations, malnutrition is diagnosed in spite of an inconspicuous NRS-2002 within the framework of the study
  • as well as in the case of relevant, conspicuous esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy findings

Specific Exclusion Criteria:

Liver Cirrhosis:

  • steatohepatitis according to clinical or laboratory parameters
  • acute alcoholic hepatitis according to clinical and imaging parameters (sonography, CT, MRI)
  • existing transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)
  • known hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)
  • state after liver transplantation

Chronic Pancreatitis:

  • acute pancreatitis
  • extrapancreatic infection
  • coexisting liver cirrhosis based on clinical and imaging parameters
  • state after surgery with alteration of food flow (partial or total pancreaticoduodenectomy)
  • known pancreatic carcinoma or state after therapy of pancreatic carcinoma (surgery or chemotherapy or radiation)

Short Bowel Syndrome (SBS):

  • acute phase of intestinal insufficiency (less than 28 days after resection)
  • intravenous substitution of macronutrients (water, electrolytes, glucose, amino acids or lipids (intestinal insufficiency)
  • intramuscular substitution of micronutrients is allowed (e.g. vitamin B12)
  • uncontrolled underlying disease leading to SBS (e.g. active Crohn's disease)

Control Patients:

  • major underlying and concomitant diseases
  • food allergies

Healthy controls:

  • tumor diseases in the past 5 years
  • medically diagnosed, serious chronic diseases or changes in the gastrointestinal tract that may affect the absorption of nutrients (e.g. celiac disease, chronic inflammatory bowel disease or irritable bowel syndrome diagnosed according to Rome IV criteria, relevant bowel resections including short bowel syndrome)
  • rheumatic diseases requiring permanent drug therapy (rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia)
  • chronic use of anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving drugs or use of anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving drugs for more than 3 days in the last 3 weeks
  • average daily alcohol consumption > 20 g in women and > 30 g in men
  • diagnosed severe liver disease requiring medical attention and drug therapy (liver cirrhosis, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) / alcoholic steatohepatitis (ASH), hepatitides)
  • acute or chronic pancreatitis
  • acute and chronic renal failure
  • myocardial infarction or cerebral insult within 6 months prior to examination
  • coronary artery disease/pAVK (peripheral artery disease (PAD))
  • heart failure with stages 3 and 4 according to NYHA (New York Heart Association) classification
  • severe chronic pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • history of significant neurological or psychiatric diseases (including epilepsy, bipolar disorders, dementia and neuromuscular diseases)
  • presence of pareses including mono- and diparesis
  • rare congenital metabolic diseases (cystic fibrosis, phenylketonuria)
  • expected altered body composition (extreme sports activity < 2h/day), edema, amputation of the extremities (arm and/or leg)
  • highly atypical or restrictive dietary choices/concepts followed voluntarily (macrobiotics, paleo-diet, Atkins diet, Mayo diet, instinctive diets) or due to food intolerances/allergies
  • simultaneous participation in other studies associated with drug use and potentially having a significant impact on body composition or dietary behaviour

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Control PatientsNo intervention - cross-sectional observational onlyOtherwise healthy patients visiting hospital with other non-severe diseases.
Healthy ControlsNo intervention - cross-sectional observational onlyHealthy subjects recruited from the general population.
Chronic PancreatitisNo intervention - cross-sectional observational onlyPatients diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis.
Liver CirrhosisNo intervention - cross-sectional observational onlyPatients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.
Short Bowel SyndromeNo intervention - cross-sectional observational onlyPatients diagnosed with short bowel Syndrome.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
SarcopeniaBaseline

Descriptive and inferential determination of the prevalence of sarcopenia according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 criteria (EWGSOP2 criteria) in malnourished and non malnourished patients with liver cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis or short bowel syndrome - as a total group and separated by type of disease

Quantitative Food IntakeBaseline

Determination of quantitative food intake assessed by the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults Food Frequency Questionnaire (DEGS-FFQ) in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Body WeightBaseline

Determination of body weight measured in kilograms in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Hip CircumferenceBaseline

Determination of hip circumference measured in centimeters in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Waist-to-Hip RatioBaseline

Determination of waist-to-hip ratio (calculated from the values obtained for waist and hip circumference) in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Upper Arm CircumferenceBaseline

Determination of upper arm circumference measured in centimeters in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Fat Free MassBaseline

Determination of fat free mass measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Skeletal Muscle MassBaseline

Determination of skeletal muscle mass measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Extracellular WaterBaseline

Determination of extracellular water measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Phase AngleBaseline

Determination of phase angle measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Muscle StrengthBaseline

Determination of muscle strength measured by a handgrip strength dynamometer in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

PotassiumBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of potassium in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Gamma-glutamyl TransferaseBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of gamma-glutamyl transferase in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Alkaline PhosphataseBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of alkaline phosphatase in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

BilirubinBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of bilirubin in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Qualitative Food IntakeBaseline

Determination of qualitative food intake assessed by the Study of Health in Pomerania Food Frequency Questionnaire (SHIP-FFQ) in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Waist CircumferenceBaseline

Determination of waist circumference measured in centimeters in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Physical ActivityBaseline

Determination of physical activity assessed by the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) Short Form in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Body Mass IndexBaseline

Determination of body mass index in kg/m\^2 (calculated from the values obtained for body weight and height) in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Fat MassBaseline

Determination of fat mass measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

HemoglobinBaseline

Determination of hemoglobin level in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

HematocritBaseline

Determination of hematocrit level in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Mean Corpuscular VolumeBaseline

Determination of mean corpuscular volume in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin ConcentrationBaseline

Determination of mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Reticulocyte CountBaseline

Determination of reticulocyte count in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

MagnesiumBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of magnesium in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Aspartate TransaminaseBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of aspartate transferase in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

HeightBaseline

Determination of height measured in meters in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

CalciumBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of calcium in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Triceps Skinfold ThicknessBaseline

Determination of triceps skinfold thickness measured in millimeters in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Total Body WaterBaseline

Determination of total body water measured by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) in comparison with non malnourished and non-sarcopenia patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

SodiumBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of sodium in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

PhosphateBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of phosphate in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Alanine AminotransferaseBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of alanine aminotransferase in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

C-reactive ProteinBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of C-reactive protein in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Interleukin-1 BetaBaseline

Determination of serum concentration of interleukin-1 beta in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Interleukin-6Baseline

Determination of plasma concentration of interleukin-6 in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Tumor Necrosis Factor AlphaBaseline

Determination of serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

AlbuminBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of albumin in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

CreatinineBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of creatinine in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Glycated hemoglobinBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of glycated hemoglobin in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

UreaBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of urea in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Uric AcidBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of uric acid in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

GlucoseBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of glucose in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Low-density Lipoprotein CholesterolBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

IronBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of iron in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

InsulinBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of insulin in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Total CholesterolBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of total cholesterol in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

High-density Lipoprotein CholesterolBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Non-essential Fatty AcidsBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of non-essential fatty acids in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

ZincBaseline

Determination of serum concentration of zinc in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

TriglyceridesBaseline

Determination of plasma concentration of triglycerides in comparison to control patients and in comparison to healthy control subjects

Plasma MetabolomeBaseline

In a participants subgroup, investigations of the plasma metabolome in comparison with control patients and in comparison with healthy control subjects

Expression of Intestinal Ion TransportersBaseline

Determination of the expression of intestinal ion transporters in a patient subgroup in comparison to control patients (using proximal small intestinal biopsies, qRT-PCR (Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) of different intestinal transport markers)

Intestinal Barrier FunctionBaseline

Determination of the intestinal barrier function in a patient subgroup in comparison to control patients (using proximal small intestinal biopsies, qRT-PCR (Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction) of different intestinal barrier markers)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Validity of the Study of Health in Pomerania Food Frequency QuestionnaireBaseline

Determination of the validity of the Study of Health in Pomerania Food Frequency Questionnaire (SHIP-FFQ) by assessment of percent agreement with the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults Food Frequency Questionnaire (DEGS-FFQ)

Malnutrition-Sarcopenia ScoreBaseline

Correlative, factorial or other presentation of the results including statistical-mathematical argumentation of the usefulness of a combined malnutrition-sarcopenia score (MaSa score) for practical application.

Factor Analysis of Phenotypes of Sarcopenia and MalnutritionBaseline

Determination of parameters characterizing phenotypes of sarcopenia and malnutrition in the investigated gastroenterological disease (liver cirrhosis, chronic pancreatitis, short bowel syndrome) by factor analysis

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

University Medicine Greifswald

🇩🇪

Greifswald, Germany

University of Applied Sciences Neubrandenburg

🇩🇪

Neubrandenburg, Germany

Univeristy Medicine Rostock

🇩🇪

Rostock, Germany

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