Congruent validity and reliability of two metabolic systems to measure resting metabolic rate

Determine the congruent validity and intra- and inter-day reliability of RMR measures assessed by the ParvoMedics Trueone 2 400 hood dilution method (Parvo) and Cosmed K4b(2) (Cosmed) breath-by-breath metabolic systems. Participants underwent 6 RMR assessments over 2 consecutive mornings, 3 with the Parvo (Day 1: Parvo 1; Day 2: Parvo 2, 3), 3 with the Cosmed (Day 1: Cosmed 1; Day 2: Cosmed 2, 3). Measured VE, FEO(2), FECO(2), VO(2), VCO(2), kcal/day, and HR values were averaged over a minimum of 10 min. Intra- and inter-day reliability within each system was determined with RMANOVA, and congruent validity was assessed via paired sample t-tests.31 participants (13 females, 18 males; 27.3±7 years, 24.8±3.1 kg.m(2)) completed the study. There were no significant differences in any within or between day Parvo values or Cosmed values. When systems were compared, there was a significant difference between VE (Parvo2: 25.03 L/min, Cosmed2: 8.98 L/min) and FEO(2) (Parvo2: 19.68%, Cosmed2: 16.63%), however, there were no significant difference in device-calculated RMR (kcals/day).The Parvo and Cosmed are reliable metabolic system with no intra- or inter-day differences in RMR. Due to differences in measurement technology, FEO(2), V(E) were significantly different between systems, but the resultant RMR values were not significantly different.