Increased energy expenditure during posture maintenance and exercise in early Parkinson disease

Evidence for the effects of Parkinson disease on energy expenditure is incomplete and contradictory. A number of studies showed increased resting energy expenditure among patients with Parkinson disease whereas others did not. It was hypothesized that energy expenditure increases during exercise, based on findings in patients with a variable regime of anti-parkinsonian therapies and at different stages of the disease. However, energy expenditure during posture maintenance has been neglected. To better understand these issues, we studied energy expenditure in a homogenous population of Parkinson patients in an early stage of the disease and different states of activity.

Oxygen consumption was assessed in a group of 10 males with early Parkinson disease without dopaminergic treatment and controls matched for age and body composition. Oxygen consumption was measured at rest, during trunk unsupported sitting, and during exercise at different intensities (unloaded and loaded cycling).

Resting energy expenditure was similar between groups. Higher energy consumption was observed during maintenance of trunk posture at rest and during light intensity aerobic exercise (P < .05 for all conditions). The increment in energy expenditure associated with increased physical demand tended to be steeper in Parkinson disease.

Resting energy expenditure is normal in Parkinson disease. However, energy expenditure increases during physical activity and even during the maintenance of unsupported posture among patients with Parkinson disease.