Impact of home-based training and nutritional behavior on body composition and metabolic markers in cancer patients: data from the CRBP-TS study

Sophia Darmochwal; Christian Bischoff; René Thieme; Ines Gockel; Uwe Tegtbur; Peter Hillemanns; Antina Schulze; Johannes Voss; Roberto Falz; Martin Busse

doi:10.3389/fnut.2023.1152218

Impact of home-based training and nutritional behavior on body composition and metabolic markers in cancer patients: data from the CRBP-TS study

Front Nutr. 2023 Sep 19:10:1152218. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1152218. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Sport Medicine and Prevention, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
² Department of Visceral, Transplant, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
³ Department of Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
⁴ Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity and physical inactivity are known to affect cancer's development and prognosis. In this context, physical aerobic and resistance training as well as a Mediterranean nutrition have been proven to have many positive health effects. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effect of home-based training on body composition and certain metabolic laboratory parameters.

Methods: Patients with breast, colorectal and prostate cancer who underwent curative surgery at stages T1N0M0-T3N3M0 were eligible for this trial and randomized to an intervention and control group. In the intervention group the patients carried out online-based strength-endurance home training during the 6-month study period. Body composition was assessed via bioelectrical impedance analysis (baseline, 3 months and 6 months). Metabolic blood parameters were also analyzed and nutrition behavior determined using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS).

Results: The intervention group's fat mass decreased while their lean body mass increased (time effect p = 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). We found no interaction effect in body weight (p = 0.19), fat mass [p = 0.06, 6-months estimates -0.9 (95% CI -1.8 to -0.1)] and lean body mass (p = 0.92). Blood samples also failed to show a statistically significant interaction effect between time × group for HbA1c% (p = 0.64), Insulin (p = 0.33), Adiponectin (p = 0.87), Leptin (p = 0.52) and Triglycerides (p = 0.43). Only Adiponectin revealed significance in the time effect (p < 0.001) and Leptin in the group effect (p = 0.03). Dietary behavior during the study period was similar in patients in the intervention and control groups (interaction p = 0.81; group p = 0.09 and time p = 0.03).

Discussion: Individualized online-based home training in postoperative cancer patients revealed only minor changes, with no group differences in body composition or metabolic laboratory parameters, which were predominantly in the reference range at baseline. More studies investigating effects of online-based home training on body composition and nutrition behavior are needed.

Trial registration: https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00020499, DRKS-ID: DRKS00020499.

Keywords: Adiponectin; Leptin; body composition; cancer; metabolic markers; online-based home training.

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the State Ministry for Higher Education, Research and Arts, Free State of Saxony, Germany. Funding bodies were not involved in the study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, or writing of the manuscript. We acknowledge the funding by the Open Access Publishing Fund of Leipzig University, which was supported by the German Research Foundation within the program Open Access Publication Funding.