Effects of higher dietary protein intake on energy balance and metabolic control in children with long-chain 3-hydroxy acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) or trifunctional protein (TFP) deficiency.
The incidence of overweight and obesity is increasing among children with long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) or mitochondrial trifunctional (TFP) deficiency. Traditional treatment includes fasting avoidance and consumption of a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. A diet higher in protein and lower in carbohydrate may help to lower total energy intake while maintaining good metabolic control. To determine the short-term safety and efficacy of a high protein diet, subjects were admitted to the General Clinical Research Center and fed an ad-libitum high-protein diet and a high-carbohydrate diet for 6 days each using a randomized, crossover design. Nine subjects with LCHAD or TFP deficiency, age 7-14 were enrolled. Body composition was determined by DEXA. Total energy intake was evaluated daily. Resting energy expenditure and substrate utilization were determined by indirect calorimetry. Post-prandial metabolic responses of plasma glucose, insulin, leptin, ghrelin, acylcarnitines, and triglyceride were determined in response to a liquid meal. Subjects had a higher fat mass, lower lean mass and higher plasma leptin levels compared to reference values. While on the high protein diet energy consumption was an average of 50 kcals/day lower (p = 0.02) and resting energy expenditure was an average of 170 kcals/day higher (p = 0.05) compared to the high carbohydrate diet. Short-term higher protein diets were safe, well tolerated, and resulted in lowered energy intake and increased energy expenditure than the standard high-carbohydrate diet. Long-term studies are needed to determine whether higher protein diets will reduce the risk of overweight and obesity in children with LCHAD or TFP deficiency.
Gillingham
Melanie B
MB
The Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA. gillingm@ohsu.edu
Purnell
Jonathan Q
JQ
Jordan
Julia
J
Stadler
Diane
D
Haqq
Andrea M
AM
Harding
Cary O
CO
D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D063989:Long-Chain-3-Hydroxyacyl-CoA Dehydrogenase; D008297:Male; D063991:Mitochondrial Trifunctional Protein; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics; D011446:Prospective Studies
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D015094:3-Hydroxyacyl CoA Dehydrogenases; D063989:Long-Chain-3-Hydroxyacyl-CoA Dehydrogenase; D063991:Mitochondrial Trifunctional Protein