Overview
The purposes of the study are to quantify and compare relationships among acute changes in inflammatory markers and evoked pain sensitivity after a high-fat meal (HFM) challenge, compared to a moderate-fat meal challenge, and explore the influence of body composition on these responses, in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 18-65 years
- SCI occurring at least 2 years prior to study entry
- Neurological level of injury (LOI) between C4 and L2
- American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) A-D
- English-speaking.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Cognitive dysfunction that limits ability to adequately understand the risks of the study or are otherwise unable to consent
- Health conditions associated with chronic systemic inflammation unrelated to weight or adiposity (e.g., systemic autoimmune diseases, recurrent or active urinary tract infection, pressure injury > Stage 2)
- Conditions that preclude measurement of body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA; e.g., lower limb contracture > 15 degrees)
- Inability to obtain free-flowing blood from a superficial forearm or hand vein
- Pregnant women
- Prisoners