title: Age-related decline in RMR in physically active men: relation to exercise volume and energy intake.
abstract: We tested the hypothesis that resting metabolic rate (RMR) declines with age in physically active men (endurance exercise > or =3 times/wk) and that this decline is related to weekly exercise volume (h/wk) and/or daily energy intake. Accordingly, we studied 137 healthy adult men who had been weight stable for > or =6 mo: 32 young [26 +/- 1 (SE) yr] and 34 older (62 +/- 1 yr) sedentary males (internal controls); and 39 young (27 +/- 1 yr) and 32 older (63 +/- 2 yr) physically active males (regular endurance exercise). RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry (ventilated hood system) after an overnight fast and approximately 24 h after exercise. Because RMR is related to fat-free mass (FFM; r = 0.76, P < 0.001, current study), FFM was covaried to adjust RMR (RMR(adj)). RMR(adj) was lower with age in both the sedentary (72.0 +/- 2.0 vs. 64.0 +/- 1.3 kcal/h, P < 0.01) and the physically active (76.6 +/- 1.1 vs. 67.9 +/- 1.2 kcal/h, P < 0.01) males. In the physically active men, RMR(adj) was related to both exercise volume (no. of h/wk, regardless of intensity; r = 0.56, P < 0.001) and estimated energy intake (r = 0.58, P < 0.001). Consistent with these relations, RMR(adj) was not significantly different in subgroups of young and older physically active men matched either for exercise volume (h/wk; n = 11 each) or estimated energy intake (kcal/day; n = 6 each). These results indicate that 1) RMR, per unit FFM, declines with age in highly physically active men; and 2) this decline is related to age-associated reductions in exercise volume and energy intake and does not occur in men who maintain exercise volume and/or energy intake at a level similar to that of young physically active men.
authors.affiliation: Human Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Center for Physical Activity, Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: van Pelt
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Dinneno
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Seals
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D002149:Energy Intake; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance; D012146:Rest