title: Energy Balance in Huntington's Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little is known about the energy needs in Huntington's disease (HD). The aims of this study are to analyze and compare the total energy expenditure (TEE) and energy balance (EB) in a representative sample of HD patients with healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is an observational, case-control single-center study. Food caloric energy intake (EI) and TEE were considered for estimating EB. A dietary recall questionnaire was used to assess the EI. TEE was computed as the sum of resting energy expenditure (REE), measured by indirect calorimetry and physical activity (PA) monitored by an actigraph.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 22 patients were included (36% men, mean age 50.3 ± 15.6 years, motor Unified Huntington's Disease Scale 27.9 ± 23.7, total functional capacity 11.0 (7.0-13.0), EI 38.6 ± 10.0 kcal/kg, PA 5.3 (3.0-7.4) kcal/kg, REE 30.9 ± 6.4 kcal/kg, TEE 2,023.4 (1,592.0-2,226.5) kcal/day) and 18 controls (50% men, mean age 47.4 ± 13.8 years, EI 38.6 ± 10.3 kcal/kg, PA 8.4 (5.0-13.8) kcal/kg, REE 30.8 ± 6.6 kcal/kg, TEE 2,281.0 (2,057.3-2,855.3) kcal/day). TEE was significantly lower in patients compared to controls (p = 0.03). PA was lower in patients compared to controls (p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although patients with HD appeared to have lower energy expenditure, mainly due to decreased voluntary PA, they were still able to maintain their energy needs with an adequate food intake. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Department, Hospital Universitario de Burgos, Burgos, Spain.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gil Polo
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cubo Delgado
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mateos Cachorro
authors.forename: Jéssica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rivadeneyra Posadas
authors.forename: Natividad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mariscal Pérez
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Armesto Formoso
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015930:Diet Records; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires