Effect of the preceding day's energy intake on the total energy cost of light exercise

The effect of a variation in the preceding day's dietary energy intake-4, 10 and 18 MJ-on the oxygen consumption and respiratory quotient at rest and at work before and after a test meal (4 MJ) was investigated. 7 normal male subjects were studied at 3 different experimental situations. During the first day the subjects had an energy intake of 10 MJ and normal activity. The following morning measurements of V(O2) and V(CO2) were performed at rest and at work on a bicycle ergometer (36 W) before and after the test meal. The same measurements were performed on the following day but the dietary intake between the two sets of measurement was then either 6, 0 or 14 MJ. No significant effect was found of the preceding day's dietary energy intake on the oxygen consumption or on the energy transformed during rest, during exercise before and after the test meal. The results do not support the conclusions of previously published studies, proposing a significant feed-back mechanism tending to control the body energy content by regulation of the energy expenditure through chemical or mechanical uncoupling.