The effect of exercise and nutrition interventions on physical fitness, metabolic adaptation and blood oxygen capacity in the first year after kidney transplantation
Abstract
Aims were: 1) to assess the effect of exercise and nutrition interventions on physical fitness and indicators of both metabolic adaptation as well as blood oxygen capacity; 2) to evaluate inter-relationships between individual components of physical fitness and those indicators. Study sample - patients in the first year after cadaveric kidney transplantation with its stabilised function (N=103; mean age=54,7+-12 yrs) randomised into 4 groups: exercise (E), nutrition (N), exercise + nutrition (E+N), and control (C).
Senior Fitness Test and hand grip were used to assess physical fitness. Indicators of metabolic adaptation included levels of glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triacy glycerol and indicators of blood oxygen capacity included erythrocytes, hemoglobin, hematocrit.
Data were collected in 2nd, 6th and 10th month after kidney transplant. Significant improvements (p<0.05) of several physical fitness components were observed in the E and E+N groups in both 6th month and 10th month as compared to the 2nd month.
However combination of E+N with 6 improved components appeared to be the most effective. Changes in N and C groups remained insignificant.
Also, patients who participated in exercises program (E, E+N) have better results of metabolic adaptation and blood oxygen capacity indicators. Before the intervention, most of the indicators were bellow the norms.
Significant improvements in HDL cholesterol (p=0.04), erythrocytes (p=0.00), hemoglobin (p=0.00) and hematocrit (p=0.00) were observed in the 6th month. Erythrocytes (p=0.00) and hemoglobin (p=0.02) further improved later in the 10th month.
Analysis of the inter-relationships between study measures revealed following significant associations: hand grip correlated with indicators of oxygen capacity and glucose level correlated with dynamic balance, and flexibility of both upper and lower body.