Total energy expenditure in 9 month and 12 month infants.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the total energy expenditure of 9 and 12 month old infants and compare with current recommendations for energy intake.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study. Total energy expenditure assessed using the doubly labelled water technique over a 10 d period. Classical anthropometric measurements taken.


METHODS
Community based study in and around Cambridge, UK.


METHODS
Twenty infants aged 9 months of age and 20 infants aged 12 months of age recruited via local hospital birth records.


METHODS
Total energy expenditure calculated via the doubly labelled water technique.


RESULTS
Measurements of total energy expenditure was successful in 34 cases. Mean total energy expenditure was 73.5 kcal/kg, 73.2 kcal/kg, 77.1 kcal/kg and 77.6 kcal/kg in the nine month old boys, nine month old girls, twelve month old boys and twelve month old girls respectively. These measurements are approximately 17% below current recommendations (FAO/WHO/UNU, 1985) at nine months of age and 22% below at one year of age.


CONCLUSIONS
The data are consistent with findings in younger infants and older children in that the measurements of total energy expenditure are about 20-25% below current recommendations. It is unlikely that contemporary infants are being underfed and thus more likely that changes in feeding practices and modification of infant formula composition has led to the reduction in energy intake and energy expenditure in such infants.
Davies
P S
PS
Queensland University of Technology, School of Human Movement Studies, Australia.
Wells
J C
JC
Hinds
A
A
Day
J M
JM
Laidlaw
A
A
D000886:Anthropometry; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003903:Deuterium; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D008297:Male; D008722:Methods; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D006113:United Kingdom
D010103:Oxygen Isotopes; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003903:Deuterium