Dietary manipulation and testosterone replacement therapy may explain changes in body composition after spinal cord injury: A retrospective case report

BACKGROUND: Reduced level of physical activity, high-fat diet and skeletal muscle atrophy are key factors that are likely to contribute to deleterious changes in body composition and metabolic following spinal cord injury (SCI). Reduced caloric intake with lowering percentage macronutrients of fat and increasing protein intake may likely to improve body composition parameters and decrease ectopic adiposity after SCI. AIM: To highlight the effects of dietary manipulation and testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on body composition after SCI METHODS: A 31-year-old male with T5 SCI was administered transdermal TRT daily for 16 wk. Caloric intake and percentage macronutrients were analyzed using dietary recalls. Magnetic resonance imaging and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry were used to measure changes in body composition. RESULTS: Caloric intake and fat percentage were reduced by 445 kcal/d and 6.5%, respectively. Total body weight decreased by 8%, body fat decreased by 29%, and lean mass increased by 7%. Thigh subcutaneous adipose tissue cross-sectional area was reduced by 31%. CONCLUSION: Manipulation of caloric intake, fat percentage, and protein percentage may have influenced body composition after SCI.