Affordable measurement of human total energy expenditure and body composition using one-tenth dose doubly labelled water.
BACKGROUND
The doubly labelled water (DLW) method is the technique of choice for measurement of free-living total energy expenditure (TEE) in humans. A major constraint on the clinical applicability of the method has been the expense of the (18)O isotope.


METHODS
We have used a reduced-dose (one-tenth of the currently recommended standard dose) of DLW for the measurement of TEE and body composition in nine healthy adult male volunteers.


RESULTS
TEE measured by reduced-dose DLW was positively correlated with resting energy expenditure measured by metabolic cart (r=0.87, P<0.01). Isotope-derived fat mass and body mass index were strongly correlated (r=0.86, P<0.01). In four subjects in whom we performed a complementary evaluation using standard-dose isotope enrichment, the TEE measurements were satisfactorily comparable (mean+/-s.d.: reduced dose 2586+/-155 kcal/day vs standard dose 2843+/-321 kcal/day; mean difference 257+/-265 kcal/day).


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that DLW measurements of human energy expenditure and body composition can be performed at a substantially reduced dose (and cost) of isotope enrichment than is currently employed.
Mann
D V
DV
Department of Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong. d_v_mann@hotmail.com
Ho
C S
CS
Critchley
L
L
Fok
B S P
BS
Pang
E W H
EW
Lam
C W K
CW
Hjelm
N M
NM
D000328:Adult; D001481:Basal Metabolism; D001823:Body Composition; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D017666:Deuterium Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
D017666:Deuterium Oxide