Males With Traumatic Lower Limb Loss Differ in Body Fat Distribution Compared to Those Without Limb Loss.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective was to examine body fat composition in males with traumatic lower limb loss and a comparison group without limb loss. A secondary objective was to determine if there are differences in body fat composition by traumatic limb loss level. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Cross-sectional analyses of baseline in-person intake data was completed at a large military medical center. Data were collected from 2011 to 2020, and analysis was conducted in 2020. Participants (n = 89) included males who sustained traumatic lower limb loss (n = 50) and an age-matched comparison group without limb loss (n = 39). Mean age of participants was 36.0 ± 13.2 years. Main outcomes measured included age, height, body mass index, weight, body fat mass and percent, android fat mass and percent, gynoid fat mass and percent, and android/gynoid percent fat ratio. Differences between groups were assessed using t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests. Differences between limb loss levels were assessed using one-way ANOVA or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. RESULTS: Body fat percent (P = .001), gynoid fat percent (P = .010), android fat mass (P = .01), and percent (P = .02) were higher in the group with limb loss. There were no differences in body fat composition between limb loss levels (P > .05). CONCLUSION: Males with traumatic lower limb loss had a higher body fat percent compared to those without limb loss. Given higher body fat composition in individuals with limb loss and the relationship between body fat composition and cardiovascular disease risk, including body composition analysis with clinical screening could identify changes and allow for early intervention.

Diet-microbiome interactions in cancer treatment: Opportunities and challenges for precision nutrition in cancer.

Dietary patterns contribute to cancer risk. Separately, microbial factors influence the development of several cancers. However, the interaction of diet and the microbiome and their joint contribution to cancer treatment response needs more research. The microbiome significantly impacts drug metabolism, immune activation, and response to immunotherapy. One of the critical factors affecting the microbiome structure and function is diet. Data demonstrate that the diet and microbiome composition affects the immune response. Moreover, malnutrition is a significant confounder to cancer therapy response. There is little understanding of the interaction of malnutrition with the microbiome in the context of cancer. This review aims to address the current knowledge of dietary intake patterns and malnutrition among cancer patients and the impact on treatment outcomes. Second, this review will provide evidence linking the microbiome to cancer treatment response and provide evidence of the potentially strong effect that diet could have on this interaction. This review will formulate critical questions that will need further research to understand the diet-microbiome relationship in cancer treatment response and directions for future research to guide us to precision nutrition therapy to improve cancer outcomes.