Nearly half of COPD patients are malnourished. How should they eat?

Nearly half of COPD patients are malnourished. How should they eat?

COPD patients often suffer from varying degrees of malnutrition, with the incidence of malnutrition reaching 20% ​​to 60%, especially in patients with severe lung dysfunction. The prognosis of COPD patients with obvious malnutrition is even worse.

Therefore, a reasonable diet and effective use of nutritional support can help improve the respiratory function and quality of life of patients with COPD.

01

Why do patients with COPD get thinner the more they eat?

1. Increased consumption

The daily breathing energy consumption is 10 times that of a normal person.

Chronic inflammation in the lungs leads to increased basal energy expenditure.

2. Reduced intake

Loss of appetite, difficulty breathing when eating, and decreased food intake

3. Difficulties in nutrient intake, digestion, absorption and utilization

Cardiopulmonary insufficiency and gastrointestinal congestion lead to decreased gastrointestinal absorption function.

02

How do patients with COPD supplement nutrition?

The primary goal of nutritional treatment for COPD patients is to ensure adequate energy supply and maintain or reach an ideal body weight. The diet of COPD patients emphasizes "two highs and one low" - high protein, high fat, and low carbohydrates.

Because carbohydrates produce more carbon dioxide during metabolism, increasing the respiratory load, while fat has a lower respiratory quotient (the ratio of carbon dioxide released by an organism to oxygen absorbed in the same period of time), and produces less carbon dioxide than carbohydrates during metabolism, which can reduce the burden on the respiratory system. Therefore, a "high-fat diet" is a major feature of the diet of COPD patients.

03

Dietary advice

1. High-protein foods

Malnutrition in COPD patients can cause muscle atrophy and myosin decomposition, aggravating the symptoms of dyspnea, so it should be corrected as soon as possible. Choosing a high-protein diet can help repair lung diseased tissue, increase respiratory-related muscle strength, improve the patient's immunity, and reduce the chance of lung infection caused by hypoproteinemia.

It is necessary to supplement high-quality protein, such as eggs, old duck, lean pork, beef and mutton, milk and soy products, etc. For example, 1 egg per day, 100-150g lean meat, 30g soy products, and 200-400ml milk.

2. High-fat diet

Fats produce less carbon dioxide than carbohydrates, so the diet should contain a higher proportion of fat, and polyunsaturated fats should be selected, preferably omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory effects and are useful in preventing and treating chronic inflammatory states in such patients. Fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids: tuna, turbot, etc., 2 to 3 times a week, 150 to 200g each time; nuts rich in omega-3 fatty acids: walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts, etc., 30g/day.

Note: Excessive fat intake will increase the burden on the digestive tract and cause indigestion.

3. Eat less carbohydrates

High calorie intake, especially high carbohydrate intake, will increase carbon dioxide production, leading to increased alveolar ventilation, thereby increasing respiratory damage. The amount of carbohydrates should be reduced, not exceeding 200g of carbohydrates per day (100g of rice or noodles provides about 80g of carbohydrates, 100g of fruit provides about 10-15g of carbohydrates, and 100g of vegetables provides about 3g of carbohydrates). Whole grain intake is recommended, such as 80g of whole wheat noodles or rice or other whole grains, 50g of whole wheat bread, and 30g of cereal breakfast per day.

04

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Fresh fruits and vegetables contain essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. They are good for COPD health. Non-starchy vegetables (except peas, potatoes and corn) are low in carbohydrates and can be included in the diet. Consume 400-500g of vegetables and 200g of fruit per day.

COPD can further develop into cor pulmonale and respiratory failure, with high disability and mortality rates. In addition to drug treatment, more attention should be paid to diet so that the body can recover faster.