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Energy expenditure and physical activity in recovering malnourished infants
Author(s) -
Rising Russell
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.1_supplement.1086.5
Subject(s) - respiratory quotient , medicine , energy expenditure , basal metabolic rate , zoology , physical activity , doubly labeled water , resting energy expenditure , pediatrics , physical therapy , biology
Background: Malnourished infants are small for age and weight. Objectives: Determine 24‐hour energy expenditure (24‐h EE) and physical activity (PA) in recovering malnourished infants. Methods: 10 malnourished infants (58.1 ± 5.9 cm, 7.7 ± 5.0 months), six classified as primary and four as primary/secondary, were determined to be healthy prior to spending 24‐hours in the Enhanced Metabolic Testing Activity Chamber for measurement of EE, resting (RMR) and sleeping metabolic rates (SMR), respiratory quotient (RQ; VCO 2 /VO 2 ) and PA (oscillations in wt/min/kg BW). Energy intake and percent sleep were recorded. These data were compared to similar results from 10 healthy infant controls (68.8 ± 2.8 cm, 5.0 ± 0.8 months). Data analysis (SPSS, Version 13) involved independent t‐test (p<0.05) between malnourished and healthy controls and expressed as kcal/kg/day. Results: In comparison to controls, malnourished infants were lighter (4.1 ± 1.2 vs. 7.3 ± 0.8 kg; p<0.05) and had a lower BMI (12.0 ± 1.7 vs. 15.5 ± 1.5; p<0.05). In contrast, malnourished infants had greater energy intake (142.7 ± 14.6 vs. 85.1 ± 25.8; p<0.05) with a greater percentage of carbohydrates (55.1 ± 3.9 vs. 47.2 ± 5.2; p<0.05). However, malnourished infants had greater 24‐h EE (101.3 ± 20.1 vs. 78.6 ± 8.4; p<0.05), RMR (90.9 ± 18.4 vs. 66.0 ± 3.5; p<0.05), SMR (92.6 ± 17.1 vs. 65.0 ± 3.9; p<0.05) and RQ (1.00 ± 0.13 vs. 0.86 ± 0.08; p<0.05). Moreover, malnourished infants also slept more (57.2 ± 6.8 vs. 49.7 ± 6.0 %; p<0.05) and had a lower amount of PA (2.3 ± 0.94 vs. 4.0 ± 1.5; p<0.05) in comparison to controls. Moreover, malnourished infants lacked a metabolic circadian rhythm. Conclusion: Malnourished infants require more energy, possibly for growth. Moreover, it appears they conserve energy by a reduction in PA, greater amount of sleep and the elimination of the metabolic circadian rhythm.