FAO/WHO/UNU equations overestimate resting metabolic rate in Vietnamese adults

To evaluate the FAO/WHO/UNU equations for predicting resting metabolic rate (RMR) in Vietnamese adults.

A cross-sectional study with healthy subjects was carried out at the Basic Nutrition Department, National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam. RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry, and anthropometric indices were recorded. Equations derived by linear regression of RMR vs body weight were compared to the FAO/WHO/UNU 1985 predictive equations.

A total of 188 subjects (98 males and 90 females) had a normal body mass index (BMI) and were divided into four groups by sex and age (male and female subjects 18-29 and 30-60 y old).

Mean RMR (MJ/kg/day) in males was lightly significant by higher than that in female subjects in the 18-29 y old age group (0.1074+/-0.0100 vs 0.0965+/-0.0123) and the same result was seen in the 30-60 y old group (0.1018+/-0.0114 vs 0.0922+/-0.0129). However, differences were not statistically significant in the two age groups. Compared to the FAO/WHO/UNU equation, our findings were 7.4, 9.0, 11.7, and 13.5% lower in the four groups, respectively (P < 0.001).

Our findings suggest that the FAO/WHO/UNU equations may overestimate RMR in Vietnamese adults. Further studies examining the relationship between body weight and RMR are needed, and establishing new predictive equations for RMR in Vietnamese should be a priority.