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Nutritional Intervention to Enhance Recovery After Arthroscopic Knee Surgery in Adults

ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RECONSTRUCTION | Muscular Atrophy

Loss of skeletal muscle mass (atrophy) and strength in the lower limb are consequences of elective knee surgery as result of prolonged disuse from limb immobilization and impaired mobility, as well as pathophysiological trauma. The highest rates of skeletal muscle mass and strength loss occur during the 2-week post-surgery period, considered the early phase of outpatient recovery. Alternative to resistance exercise and pharmacology, nutritional intervention represents one strategy to combat skeletal muscle disuse atrophy.

Essential amino acids (EAA) and omega-3 fatty acids are known to independently potentiate rates of skeletal muscle protein synthesis and attenuate skeletal muscle atrophy in humans. However, the combined actions these nutritional strategies on skeletal muscle have not been explored in a pathophysiological context, such as surgery. With the ultimate goal to test the efficacy of the combined nutritional strategy to attenuate skeletal muscle disuse atrophy in the future, the aim of this present pilot study is to explore the feasibility of recruitment and retention of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) outpatients from a single centre across 18 months for a 6-week nutritional intervention. Participants will consume either an intervention of omega-3 fatty acids and EAAs, or a placebo control of safflower oil and non-essential amino acids (NEAA), for 4 weeks before and 2 weeks after elective ACLR surgery. Furthermore, this pilot will characterize secondary outcomes of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and power, and integrated rates of muscle protein synthesis, as well as report participant adherence to protocols and incidence of adverse events.

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Participation Requirements

  • Sex:

    ALL

  • Eligible Ages:

    18 and up

Participation Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosed anterior cruciate ligament injury requiring reconstruction surgery
* Surgery in Kingston, ON
* Patellar tendon graft or quadriceps tendon graft reconstruction procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

* Any muscular, neurological, respiratory, or metabolic disease, subject to investigators' discernment, would negatively affect the subject's ability to comply with the study requirements
* Any form of cancer currently or in the last 5 years
* Bleeding disorders or antiplatelet / anticoagulation therapy
* Currently taking fish oils or within the last 6 months
* Regular consumption (≥ 2x week) of fish oil or oily fish in the last 6 months
* Allergy or sensitivity to fish, shellfish or safflower oils
* Currently taking any form of steroid or within the last 6 months
* Medical inability to attain magnetic resonance imaging scans
* Known irregular responses to physical activity (e.g., shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, etc.)
* Surgery scheduled outside of research centre
* Scheduled surgery date \< 5 weeks away
* Pregnant or plans to become pregnant within the next 6 months
* Any current illness that impacts ability to participate in protocols

Study Location

Queen's University
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario
Canada

Contact Study Team

Primary Contact

Chris McGlory, PhD

[email protected]
6135336000 Ext. 75410
Backup Contact

Danielle Nyman, PhD(c)

[email protected]
Study Sponsored By
Queen's University
Participants Required
More Information
Study ID: NCT06233825