Nutritional Therapy for COPD: What Is the Present State of Nutritional Therapy and Is There a Possibility of Developing New Drugs?

Abstract

Cachexia associated with advanced lung disease has been recognized as “pulmonary cachexia syndrome.” Manangement for pulmonary cachexia syndrome is important in COPD, because cachexia is an independent predictor of mortality. In meta-analysis reported in 2012, nutritional support is effective to improve anthropometric measures and exercise capacity in patients with COPD. COPD is treatable disease, but its airflow limitation is not fully reversible, therefore, nutritional therapy preventive to COPD is warranted. In the study reported in 2015, the Alternate Healthy Eating Index 2010 diet score was associated with a lower risk of newly diagnosed COPD.

A better approach would be to incorporate multimodal therapy, which would target simultaneously multiple underlying pathophysiological processes. Important management adjunct to nutritional supports is integrated disease management (IDM). IDM is to establish a program of different components of care in which several healthcare providers collaborate to provide efficient and good quality of care. IDM will help to develop new drugs targeting pulmonary cachexia syndrome in patients with COPD. Integrated nutritional therapy including bronchodilator and exercise program is warranted to answer the question: “Is there a possibility of developing new drugs for cachexia in COPD?”