The ¹³C bicarbonate method: an inverse end product method for measuring CO₂ production and energy expenditure

We reconsider the principle of the (13)C bicarbonate (NaH(13)CO3) method ((13)C-BM) for the determination of the CO2 production to obtain an estimate of energy expenditure (EE). Its mathematical concept based on a three-compartmental model is related to the [(15)N]glycine end product method. The CO2 production calculated by the (13)C-BM, RaCO2((13)C) is compared to the result from the indirect calorimetry, RCO2(IC). In an interspecies comparison (dog, goat, horse, cattle, children, adult human; body mass ranging from 15 to 350 kg, resting and fasting conditions) we found an excellent correlation between the results of (13)C-BM and IC with RCO2(IC) = 0.703 × RaCO2((13)C), (R(2) = 0.99). The slope of this correlation corresponds to the fractional (13)C recovery (RF((13)C)) of (13)C in breath CO2 after administration of NaH(13)CO3. Significant increase in RF((13)C) was found in physically active dogs (0.95 ± 0.14; n = 5) vs. resting dogs (0.71 ± 0.10, n = 17; p = .015). The (13)C recovery in young bulls was greater in blood CO2 (0.81 ± 0.05) vs. breath CO2 (0.73 ± 0.05, n = 12, p < .001) and in ponies with oral (0.76 ± 0.03, n = 8) vs. intravenous administration of NaH(13)CO3 (0.69 ± 0.07; n = 8; p = .026). We suggest considering the (13)C-BM as a 'stand-alone' method to provide information on the total CO2 production as an index of EE.