24 h energy expenditure during a standardized activity protocol in young and elderly men.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of age on energy expenditure was studied.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Respiration chamber at the University of Maastricht.


METHODS
Thirteen young men (27 +/- 4 years) and ten elderly men (74 +/- 5 years), were recruited with advertisements in local media.


METHODS
In a 36 h experiment, 24 h energy expenditure (EE), sleeping metabolic rate (SMR), diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) and energy expenditure of physical activity (EEact) were measured while subjects performed an activity protocol in a respiration chamber under strictly controlled conditions.


RESULTS
SMR as a function of fat-free mass (FFM) was not different between both age groups. 24 h EE during a standardized activity protocol was significantly higher for the young men (young men: 12.85 +/- 1.53 MJ/d; elderly men: 10.90 +/- 1.12 MJ/d; P = 0.011). The DIT expressed as MJ/d was significantly higher for the young subjects but similar when expressed as percentage of energy intake (young men: 13.10 +/- 5.44%; elderly men: 9.88 +/- 3.86%). The resulting figure for EEact (24 h EE--SME--DIT) was the same for young and elderly men (young men: 3.11 +/- 0.71 MJ/d; elderly men: 3.05 +/- 0.64 MJ/d).


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that mean energy costs for low intensity daily activities (some daily household activities and a bench stepping exercise) were the same for young and elderly men.
Pannemans
D L
DL
Department of Human Biology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Bouten
C V
CV
Westerterp
K R
KR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology