Energy balance in lactating undernourished Indian women.
An energy balance study was conducted in eight lactating poor-income Indian women from delivery to 6 months. Energy intake and expenditure were assessed for 7 days every month (30-37 days). Every month, basal metabolic rate (BMR) and milk ingested by infants was measured. An energy balance was computed. As a group these women were in energy balance, indicated by small body weight changes with respect to time. However, only two of these women were in a positive energy balance. Women with higher body weight lost more weight. Estimated mean energy intake was higher than energy expenditure. BMR showed a slight but not significant fall during the second month of lactation and was not different from the BMR seen in 13 non-pregnant, non-lactating women matched for body weight from the staff of the Institute. The energy cost of lactation was 2.3 MJ (549 kcal), a figure that justifies the Recommended Dietary Allowance for energy recommended by FAO/WHO/UNU (1985) and ICMR (1989).
Madhavapeddi
R
R
National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad.
Rao
B S
BS
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007774:Lactation / Q000378:metabolism*; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011203:Poverty; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000378:metabolism*; D015431:Weight Loss