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Determining Basal Energy Expenditure and the Capacity of Thermogenic Adipocytes to Expend Energy in Obese Mice
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Determining Basal Energy Expenditure and the Capacity of Thermogenic Adipocytes to Expend Energy in Obese Mice

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[Resting energy expenditure in healthy newborn infants]

Chang-hong Lu1, Wei Cai, Qing-ya Tang

  • 1Clinical Nutrition Center and Department of Pediatric Surgery, Xinhua Hospital and Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200092, China.

Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi = Chinese Journal of Pediatrics
|February 6, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Resting energy expenditure (REE) in healthy newborns is lower than predicted by standard formulas. Indirect calorimetry is recommended for accurate REE measurement in infants.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal physiology
  • Metabolic research
  • Pediatric nutrition

Context:

  • Accurate assessment of resting energy expenditure (REE) is crucial for understanding neonatal metabolism and nutritional needs.
  • Existing predictive formulas may not accurately reflect REE in healthy newborns.
  • Indirect calorimetry offers a precise method for measuring REE in this population.

Purpose:

  • To determine the actual resting energy expenditure (REE) in healthy newborns.
  • To evaluate factors influencing REE in neonates.
  • To compare measured REE with values predicted by the Schofield formula.

Summary:

  • This study measured the REE in 154 healthy newborns using indirect calorimetry.
  • The average measured REE was 201.8 kJ/(kg·d), significantly lower than the 226.1 kJ/(kg·d) predicted by the Schofield formula.
  • No significant differences in REE were observed based on sex or delivery method.

Impact:

  • Findings suggest that standard predictive formulas may overestimate REE in healthy newborns.
  • Indirect calorimetry is confirmed as a superior method for determining actual REE in neonates.
  • The study provides a validated REE value for healthy newborns (201.8 ± 25.4 kJ/(kg·d)) for clinical and research applications.
Abstract

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