Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder and Acute Exercise

In this study, the following hypothesis will be tested: A bout of resistance exercise will
affect the acute and 24h response in whole-body protein and amino acid metabolism and
cognitive function as compared to baseline values in COPD patients and healthy subjects. To
do this, subjects will complete a baseline visit in which they receive stable amino acid
tracers. The next day they will complete a one-time resistance exercise with an immediate
measurement of the amino acid tracers, and return 24 hours after exercise to repeat amino
acid tracer measurements. This project will provide important clinical information on the
whole body protein and amino acid metabolic response to acute resistance exercise in elderly
subjects with COPD, as well as, the exercise induced changes in physical and cognitive
function, and absolute muscular strength capacity in this population. In this way, this study
will provide preliminary data for the development of standardized, repeatable resistance
exercise protocols that will stop the process of ongoing muscle loss and improve metabolism
and function in COPD subjects.

Inclusion criteria COPD subjects:

- Ability to walk, sit down and stand up independently

- Age 45 years or older

- Ability to lie in supine or elevated position for 4 hours

- Diagnosis of moderate to very severe chronic airflow limitation and compliant to the
following criteria: FEV1 < 70% of reference FEV1

- Clinically stable condition and not suffering from a respiratory tract infection or
exacerbation of their disease (defined as a combination of increased cough, sputum
purulence, shortness of breath, systemic symptoms such as fever, and a decrease in
FEV1 > 10% compared with values when clinically stable in the preceding year) at least
4 weeks prior to the first test day

- Shortness of breath on exertion

- Willingness and ability to comply with the protocol

Inclusion criteria healthy subjects:

- Healthy male or female according to the investigator's or appointed staff's judgment

- Ability to walk, sit down and stand up independently

- Age 45 years or older

- Ability to lay in supine or elevated position for 4 hours

- No diagnosis of COPD

- Willingness and ability to comply with the protocol

Exclusion Criteria all subjects:

- Any condition that may interfere with the definition 'healthy subject' according to
the investigator's judgment (healthy subjects only)

- Established diagnosis of malignancy

- History of untreated metabolic diseases including hepatic or renal disorder

- Presence of acute illness or metabolically unstable chronic illness

- Presence of fever within the last 3 days

- Body mass index >40 kg/m2 (healthy subjects only)

- Any other condition according to the PI or nurse that was found during the screening
visit, that would interfere with the study or safety of the patient

- Use of protein or amino acid containing nutritional supplements within 5 days of first
study day

- Previous injury that could interfere with participation in resistance exercise
protocol

- Use of short course of oral corticosteroids within 4 weeks preceding first study day

- Failure to give informed consent or Investigator's uncertainty about the willingness
or ability of the subject to comply with the protocol requirements

- (Possible) pregnancy

- Already enrolled in another clinical trial and that clinical trial interferes with
participating in this study