title: Metabolic rate at rest and during sleep in a thermoneutral environment.
abstract: This study characterised the pattern of oxygen consumption (VO2) in healthy infants and children asleep and awake (at rest) in a thermoneutral environment. Measurement of respiratory gas exchange (VO2 and VCO2) was made using an open circuit flow through system of indirect calorimetry with a specially designed facemask for the collection of exhaled breath. Fifty two healthy subjects aged 4.5 months to 12.8 years were studied for 15-20 minutes; 18 during sleep and 34 at rest (awake). There was a curvilinear relation between VO2 and age in the two groups and children aged 2 years or less had the highest values. The value of VO2 was significantly higher in the awake subjects (12.5-15.0 ml/min/kg compared with 7.5-9.0 ml/min/kg in sleeping children). Comparison of the regression lines after log transformation of these data showed a significant difference in VO2 of resting and sleeping subjects up to the age of 9.5 years.
authors.affiliation: University of Manchester, North Western Injury Research Centre.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Childs
mesh_terms: D001458:Bandages; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001827:Body Height; D001831:Body Temperature; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology*