Diet-induced thermogenesis in patients with gastrointestinal cancer cachexia.
1. Indirect calorimetry has been used to measure resting energy expenditure (REE) and the thermogenic response to a test meal (diet-induced thermogenesis) in groups of weight-stable and weight-losing patients with gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma. Average daily intakes of energy and protein were computed from dietary assessment for the week before hospitalization. Results were compared with a control group of patients with benign gastrointestinal disease. 2. Weight-losing cancer patients had a significantly reduced mean total energy and protein intake. 3. There was no significant difference in REE between the groups when results were normalized in terms of metabolic body size (kJ/kg 0.75) and lean body mass (kJ/kg). 4. Diet-induced thermogenesis was reduced in weight-losing cancer patients. 5. It is suggested that the reduction of diet-induced thermogenesis in weight-losing cancer patients is another element of starvation adaptation, subsequent to their weight loss, and that altered thermogenesis does not contribute to the weight loss seen in cancer cachexia.
Surgical Unit, London Hospital, U.K.
P M
PM
Weston
R F
RF
King
A W
AW
Goode
N S
NS
Williams
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications*; D000368:Aged; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002100:Cachexia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015431:Weight Loss