Skeletal muscle anabolic and insulin sensitivity responses to a mixed meal in adult patients with active Crohn's disease.

Background And Aims: We have previously shown reduced protein balance in response to nutrition in paediatric Crohn's disease (CD) in remission, associated with reduced lean mass (sarcopenia) and reduced protein intake in males. We aim to compare skeletal muscle metabolic response to feeding in adult active CD and healthy volunteers.

Methods: Eight CD participants with active disease (41.3 ± 4.5 yrs; BMI 26.9 ± 1.5 kg/m) and eight matched healthy volunteers (Con) (41.2 ± 4.3 yrs; BMI 25.1 ± 1.1 kg/m) were recruited. Participants had a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan, handgrip dynamometer test, wore a pedometer and completed a food diary. Arterialized hand and venous forearm blood samples were collected concurrently and brachial artery blood flow measured at baseline and every 20mins for 2hrs after the ingestion of a standardized mixed liquid meal. Net balance of branched chain amino acids (BCAA), glucose and free fatty acids across the forearm were derived.

Results: No differences in muscle BCAA, glucose or FFA net balance were found between CD and Con. Neither were differences in muscle mass and function, physical activity or diet found. CD did not differ from Con in whole body insulin and lipid responses, or in energy expenditure and fuel oxidation.

Conclusions: Skeletal muscle mass, function, dietary protein intake and response to a test meal in an adult CD cohort with active disease is similar to that seen in healthy volunteers. Combining these results with our previous findings in paediatric patients suggests that age of onset and/or disease burden over time, as well as daily protein intake, may be significant in the development of sarcopenia in CD. Longitudinal studies investigating these factors are required.