DIFFERENCES IN LEAN TISSUE MASS AND STRENGTH BETWEEN PATIENTS WITH CROHN??S DISEASE AND HEALTHY CONTROLS

Abstract

Crohn's Disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that may have an effect on lean tissue mass and strength due to reduced nutrition or corticosteroid useage. There is controversy as to whether patients in remission from Crohn's Disease have reduced lean tissue mass and strength. PURPOSE To compare lean tissue mass and strength in subjects with Crohn's Disease to healthy controls adjusting for age, sex, and height. METHODS Subjects in remission from Crohn's Disease (n=25;age=44y) were recruited from an ongoing study. Lean tissue and fat mass were assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and compared to healthy controls from a pre-existing database (n=174; age=44y). Bench press and leg press one-repetition maximum strength was measured in a subset of these Crohn's Disease subjects (n=14) and compared to the controls (n=135,bench press; n=136,leg press). All comparisons were made using ANCOVA, adjusting for age, sex, and height. RESULTS Crohn's Disease subjects had lower lean tissue mass (39.7 vs. 45.1 kg) and higher fat mass (34.9 vs. 23.9 kg) compared to controls (p < 0.05). Leg press (106 vs. 139 kg) and bench press (61.5 vs. 65.5 kg) strength were also lower in Crohn's Disease subjects compared to controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Subjects with Crohn's Disease have lower lean tissue mass and strength and higher fat mass when compared to healthy controls. The results may be useful in determining appropriate exercise training programs in order to reverse the effects of the disease. Supported by the University of Saskatchewan President's NSERC fund.