Indirect calorimetry: a tool to adjust energy expenditure in very low birth weight infants.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the resting metabolic rate in very low birth weight infants through indirect calorimetry.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study including 29 clinically stable very low birth weight infants receiving an enteral diet > 100 kcal/kg/day. Malnutrition was defined as weight-for-age z score < or = - 2 SD. Resting energy expenditure was measured using open circuit indirect calorimetry.


RESULTS
At the time of the examination, mean weight was 1,564+/-393 g and corrected gestational age was 35+/-3 weeks. Malnutrition was diagnosed in 62.1% of the preterm infants. The mean resting metabolic rate was 57.01+/-7.76 kcal/kg/day.


CONCLUSIONS
Since resting energy expenditure is the main caloric component of total energy expenditure, the high resting metabolic rate observed may have a strong impact on the development of malnutrition during hospitalization.
Soares
Fernanda V M
FV
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Moreira
Maria E L
ME
Abranches
Andrea D
AD
Ramos
Jose R M
JR
Gomes Junior
Saint C S
SC
D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D012016:Reference Values; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*