Twenty‐four hour metabolic rate utilized as a reference to evaluate several prediction equations for calculating energy requirements in healthy infants

Previous metabolic rate measurements of less than four‐hours were used to evaluate prediction equations (PE) for calculating energy expenditure (EE) in healthy infants. Methods Actual 24‐hour EE data from a prior study were used to evaluate several PE for calculating EE. Data for 24‐hour EE, resting (RMR) and sleeping (SMR) metabolic rates obtained in 10 healthy infants, served as a reference to evaluate 11 length and weight (LWT) and weight (WT) based PE. Six PE were derived from four‐hour EE measurements in the Enhanced Metabolic Testing Activity Chamber (EMTAC) consisting of the EMTACEE‐LWT and EMTACEE‐WT for 24‐hour EE, the EMTACRMR‐LWT and EMTACRMR‐WT for RMR and EMTACSMR‐LWT and EMTACSMR‐WT for SMR. Five PE for calculating RMR were the WHO, Schofield (SCH‐LWT and SCH‐WT) and Oxford (OXFORD‐LWT and OXFORD‐WT). Paired t‐tests and Bland and Altman limit analysis were utilized to compare each PE to the reference infants (SPSS, v13). Results 24‐hour EE, RMR and SMR calculated with the EMTACEE‐WT, EMTACRMR‐WT and both the EMTACSMR‐LWT and EMTACSMR‐WT PE were similar (p=NS) to that obtained for the reference infants. However, RMR calculated using the WHO, SCH‐LWT, SCH‐WT, OXFORD‐LWT AND OXFORD‐WT PE were not comparable to 24‐hour EE (p<0.05) obtained in the reference infants. Conclusions Weight based PE derived from short‐duration EE measurements in the EMTAC was suitable for calculating EE in healthy infants. Supported by NIH (grant #1R43HD/DK38180‐01A4)