The role of exercise physical activity in varying the total energy expenditure in healthy Japanese men 30 to 69 years of age.

This study was designed to examine 1) the role of exercise physical activity (EPA), and then 2) physical fitness and body composition upon variation of the total energy expenditure (TEE) in healthy Japanese men aged 30 to 69 y (n = 40). EPA and TEE were assessed over 14 d using an accelerometer and a doubly labeled water (DLW) method, respectively. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) was measured after 10 h fasting on the morning of the day of DLW dosing. Physical activity-induced energy expenditure (PAEE) was calculated by subtracting BMR and diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT = 101 TEE) from TEE. EPA was subdivided into three intensities: low, moderate and high and the accumulated duration (time expressed in minutes) of each of these was calculated. Body composition and physical fitness (VO2max) were determined using an underwater weighing method and a treadmill exercise test, respectively. BMR (mean +/- SD: 1,459 +/- 181 kcal/d) declined significantly with age (r = -0.37. p < 0.05), but PAEE (946 +/- 320 kcal/d) and TEE (2,672 +/- 369 kcal/d) did not. A multiple stepwise regression analysis was used to develop an empirical model that relates energy expenditure measured by the DLW (TEE) to age, height, body mass index, FM, FFM, percentage body fat, VO2max, and accumulated duration spent for low-, moderate-, and high-intensity EPA. The results revealed that FFM and high-intensity EPA were identified as important determinants of TEE and accounted for 51%. We may therefore conclude that 1) high-intensity EPA appears to be relevant in determining TEE, especially among active individuals, and 2) body composition was more important than physical fitness in determining TEE in this population.

Validation of three alternative methods to measure total energy expenditure against the doubly labeled water method for older Japanese men.

In a previous study using young Japanese men as subjects, Ebine et al. found that accelerometer (AC) represents a promising technique for measuring free-living total energy expenditure (TEE) when compared to activity records (AR) and heart rate monitoring (HR). Thus, the present study was designed to validate the use of an AC and to determine whether or not the previous findings regarding the three alternative field methods (AC, AR, and HR) could be extended to older Japanese men (n = 24; mean +/- SD age 48 +/- 10 y, body mass index 23.1 +/- 2.7 kg/m2 and body fat 18.7 +/- 4.8%). TEE values obtained over a 3 d period by AR, HR, and AC (3dAC), and AC over a 14 d period (14dAC) were simultaneously validated against TEE measured by the doubly labeled water (DLW) method applied within a 14 d period. TEE values obtained by AR, HR, 3dAC, and 14dAC ranged from 1,750 to 3,447 kcal/d, 1,691 to 5,286 kcal/d, 1,716 to 2,765 kcal/d, and 1,700 to 2,855 kcal/d, respectively. Expenditures obtained by HR were similar to those obtained using the DLW method, with a mean difference of 57 +/- 603 kcal/d (2%), but those obtained using AR, 3dAC, and 14dAC differed substantially from the DLW method, with mean differences of -335 +/- 289 kcal/d (12%), -542 +/- 249kcal/d (-19%), and -566 +/- 223kcal/d (-20%), respectively. AR, HR, 3dAC, and 14dAC were significantly correlated with the DLW method, with r values of 0.76 (p < 0.0001), 0.67 (p < 0.001), 0.78 (p < 0.0001), and 0.83 (p < 0.0001), respectively. Intra-individual variation indicated by the coefficient of variation (CV) was significantly higher for HR (15 +/- 11%, p < 0.001) than for AR (7 +/- 4%), 3dAC (7 +/- 5%), and 14dAC (8 +/- 31%). The same findings were obtained using Bland and Altman plots at the population level. Interestingly, 3dAC and 14dAC were significantly correlated with r = 0.97 (p < 0.0001), with a lower mean difference of 24 kcal/d. These results suggest that, same as the previous study, AC is superior to HR in estimating TEE, and seems to be satisfactory for estimation at both group and individual levels, particularly for large-scale studies of older individuals when compared to the DLW method. However, some modifications of the AC method may be needed to compensate for the underestimation of TEE.

Measurement of total energy expenditure by the doubly labelled water method in professional soccer players.

To determine the daily energy requirements of professional soccer players during a competitive season, we measured total energy expenditure in seven players (age 22.1+/-1.9 years, height 1.75+/-0.05 m, mass 69.8+/-4.7 kg; mean +/- s) using the doubly labelled water method. Energy intake was simultaneously estimated from 7 day self-report dietary records. Mean total energy expenditure and energy intake were 14.8+/-1.7 MJ x day(-1) (3532+/-408 kcal x day(-1)) and 13.0+/-2.4 MJ x day(-1) (3113+/-581 kcal x day(-1)), respectively. Although there was a significant difference between total energy expenditure and energy intake (P < 0.01), there was a strong relationship between the two (r= 0.893, P< 0.01). Basal metabolic rate and recommended energy allowance calculated from the Recommended Dietary Allowances for the Japanese were 7.0+/-0.3 MJ x day(-1) (1683+/-81 kcal x day(-1)) and 15.6+/-0.8 MJ x day(-1) (3739+/-180 kcal x day(-1)), respectively. A physical activity level (total energy expenditure/ basal metabolic rate) of 2.11+/-0.30 indicated that, during the competitive season, professional soccer players undertake much routine physical activity, similar to that of competitive athletes during moderate training. Energy intake estimated using dietary records was under-reported, suggesting that its calculation from these data does not predict energy expenditure in soccer players.

MEASUREMENT OF TOTAL ENERGY EXPENDITURE IN JAPANESE FIREFIGHTERS UNDER NORMAL WORKING CONDITION USING THE DOUBLY LABELED WATER METHOD / 体力科学

This study examined total energy expenditure (TEE) of Japanese firefighters under normal working conditions, and also evaluated several field methods for measuring TEE in comparison with the doubly labeled water (DLW) method. Ten male subjects belonging to Tokyo metropolitan firefighters departments, aged 30.0±2.8 yrs (mean±SD), were monitored for five consecutive days. While TEE was assessed by an accelerometer (AC) and activity records (AR) in additoin to DLW, energy intake (El) was evaluated by dietary record. There were three emergency calls over the assessment period, but no real operation of fire suppression. TEE obtained by the DLW method (4009±611 kcal/d) was significantly higher than that estimated by AC (2531±186 kcal/d) or AR (3704±476kcal/d) ; but significantly correlated with AR (r=0.876, p<0.01) . El (3539±286 kcal/d) showed no significant relationship with DLW. These results suggest that compared with AC, AR would be more feasible for estimating TEE of firefighters, who perform special activities carrying heavy equipment. The mean value of physical activity level (PAL) (2.2±0.3) indicates that firefighters can be categorized as heavy workers like soldiers or policemen.