Basal metabolic rate and diet-induced thermogenesis in Asians living in Britain

The basal metabolic rate (BMR) and diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) in 11 Asians (4 men, 7 women) who had lived in Britain for longer than 2 years were compared with a matched group of Europeans. The mean basal oxygen consumption was 226 ml O2/min in the Asians and 218 ml O2/min in the Europeans, values not significantly different. When BMR was expressed in absolute terms, per unit body weight, per unit body surface area or lean body mass, still no significant difference was observed. DIT was measured in the two groups fed a mixed meal containing 2800 kJ. The main increase in the metabolic rate over 20-120 min was 19 per cent in the Asians and 20 per cent in the Europeans. These results indicate that, in contrast to Asians living in the tropics, Asians living in Britain show no difference in BMR or DIT. It is concluded that Asians living in the temperature regions behave metabolically differently from those living in the tropics.