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Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Determining Basal Energy Expenditure and the Capacity of Thermogenic Adipocytes to Expend Energy in Obese Mice
Published on: November 11, 2021
Maternal basal metabolic rate in twin pregnancy
Shino Shinagawa1, Shunji Suzuki, Hiromitsu Chihara
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
Objective:
This study examined the basal metabolic rate in patients with twin pregnancies and compared the results with those of singleton pregnancies and non-pregnant women.
Methods:
In 15 non-pregnant women, 14 patients with twin and 25 patients with singleton pregnancies, the resting energy expenditure was measured using an open-circuit ventilatory system during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Results:
The averaged resting energy expenditure in patients with twin pregnancy was 1,636 +/- 174 kcal/day, significantly higher than that in patients with singleton pregnancy (1,456 +/- 158 kcal/day; p < 0.05). Both of these levels are significantly higher than those in non-pregnant women (1,228 +/- 132 kcal/day; p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Our results indicate that the estimated increased metabolic demands in patients during the third trimester of twin pregnancy are about 10% higher than those in women with singleton pregnancy. A prospective clinical study concerning nutrition counseling is needed.
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