American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 38, 989-998, Copyright © 1983 by The American Society for Clinical Nutrition, Inc

ORIGINAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

Long-term measurements of energy expenditure in humans using a respiration chamber

E Jequier and Y Schutz

There is a need to measure energy expenditure in man for a period of 24 h or even several days. The respiration chamber offers a unique opportunity to reach this goal. It allows the study of energy and nutrient balance; from the latter, acute changes in body composition can be obtained. The respiration chamber built in Lausanne is an air- tight room (5 m long, 2.5 m wide, and 2.5 m high) which forms an open circuit ventilated indirect calorimeter. The physical activity of the subject inside the chamber is continuously measured using a radar system based on the Doppler effect. Energy expenditure of obese and lean women was continuously measured over 24 h and diet-induced thermogenesis was assessed by using an approach which allows one to subtract the energy expended for physical activity from the total energy expenditure. Expressed in absolute terms, total energy expenditure was more elevated in the obese than in the lean controls. Basal metabolic rate was also higher in the obese than in the controls, but diet-induced thermogenesis was found to be blunted in the obese. In a second study, the effect of changing the carbohydrate/lipid content of the diet on fuel utilization was assessed in young healthy subjects with the respiration chamber. After a 7-day adaptation to a high- carbohydrate low-fat diet, the fuel mixture oxidized matched the change in nutrient intake. A last example of the use of the respiration chamber is the thermogenic response and changes in body composition due to a 7-day overfeeding of carbohydrate. Diet-induced thermogenesis was found to be 27%; on the last day of overfeeding, carbohydrate balance was reached by oxidation of 50% of the carbohydrate intake, the remaining 50% being converted into lipid.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C.-M. Lo, L. C. Samuelson, J. B. Chambers, A. King, J. Heiman, R. J. Jandacek, R. R. Sakai, S. C. Benoit, H. E. Raybould, S. C. Woods, et al. Characterization of mice lacking the gene for cholecystokinin Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, March 1, 2008; 294(3): R803 - R810. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. C Hansen, Z. Zhang, T. Gomez, A. K Adams, and D. A Schoeller Exercise increases the proportion of fat utilization during short-term consumption of a high-fat diet Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2007; 85(1): 109 - 116. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. R. Rubenbauer, D. L. Johannsen, S. M. Baier, R. Litchfield, and P. J. Flakoll The Use of a Handheld Calorimetry Unit to Estimate Energy Expenditure During Different Physiological Conditions JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, May 1, 2006; 30(3): 246 - 250. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. M. Byrne, A. P. Hills, G. R. Hunter, R. L. Weinsier, and Y. Schutz Metabolic equivalent: one size does not fit all J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2005; 99(3): 1112 - 1119. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. J. Brehm, S. E. Spang, B. L. Lattin, R. J. Seeley, S. R. Daniels, and D. A. D'Alessio The Role of Energy Expenditure in the Differential Weight Loss in Obese Women on Low-Fat and Low-Carbohydrate Diets J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2005; 90(3): 1475 - 1482. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Granato, A. Brandes, C. Bruni, A. V. Greco, and G. Mingrone V.O2, V.CO2, and RQ in a respiratory chamber: accurate estimation based on a new mathematical model using the Kalman-Bucy method J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2004; 96(3): 1045 - 1054. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Sparti, H. Milon, V. Di Vetta, P. Schneiter, L. Tappy, E. Jequier, and Y. Schutz Effect of diets high or low in unavailable and slowly digestible carbohydrates on the pattern of 24-h substrate oxidation and feelings of hunger in humans Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2000; 72(6): 1461 - 1468. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Jequier and L. Tappy Regulation of Body Weight in Humans Physiol Rev, April 1, 1999; 79(2): 451 - 480. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. F. M. Schoffelen, K. R. Westerterp, W. H. M. Saris, and F. Ten Hoor A dual-respiration chamber system with automated calibration J Appl Physiol, December 1, 1997; 83(6): 2064 - 2072. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]