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.
Weston
P M
PM
Surgical Unit, London Hospital, U.K.
King
R F
RF
Goode
A W
AW
Williams
N S
NS
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