Baliga et al. 1997
USA
Downs & Black score=14
Case Control
N=11

Population: Tetraplegics (N=6): Mean age = 33 yrs; Gender: males = 6; Severity of injury: complete; Paraplegics (N=5): Mean age = 36 yrs; Gender: males = 4, females = 1; Severity of injury: complete.
Treatment: A milk base liquid meal including Compan and glucose supplements (66g - carbohydrates, 22g – fat, 18g – protein, 500 Kcal, 300 mL).
Outcome Measures: Blood pressure [mean arterial (BP), systolic (SBP) & diastolic (DBP)]; Plasma noradrenaline and adrenaline level; Heart rate; Plasma osmolality; Plasma renin activity; Plasma glucose; Serum electrolytes.

1. Tetraplegics had ↑ basal SBP and heart rate, and ↓basal DBP than paraplegics. After the meal, there was ↓ in tetraplegics’ overall BP; however, this was not significant. Heart rate did not change in either groups and paraplegics’ overall BP did not change.
2. Basal plasma noradrenaline levels decreased in tetraplegics but not in paraplegics.
3. 15 min after the meal, paraplegics’ basal plasma noradrenaline levels significantly increased (p<0.05), while tetraplegics’ level did not change.
4. Basal renin activity levels were similar between groups. After the meal, tetraplegics’ levels ↑ at 30 & 40 min (p<0.05), but paraplegics’ level did not change.
5. Glucose levels progressively rose in tetraplegics at 15, 30, and 45 min after ingestion, while the level did not change in paraplegics. All other measures did not change after the meal, or between groups.