Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T08:27:26.735Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

No evidence for an ethnic influence on basal metabolism: an examination of data from India and Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Mario J. Soares ,
Leonard S. Piers ,
Kerin O'Dea  and
Prakash S. Shetty
Mario J. Soares*
Affiliation:
School of Nutrition Public Health and Deakin University, 336 Glenferrie Road, Malvern 3144, Victoria, Australia Deakin Institute of Human Nutrition, Deakin University, 336 Glenferrie Road, Malvern 3144, Victoria, Australia
Leonard S. Piers
Affiliation:
Deakin Institute of Human Nutrition, Deakin University, 336 Glenferrie Road, Malvern 3144, Victoria, Australia
Kerin O'Dea
Affiliation:
Deakin Institute of Human Nutrition, Deakin University, 336 Glenferrie Road, Malvern 3144, Victoria, Australia
Prakash S. Shetty
Affiliation:
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Human Nutrition Unit, 2 Taviton Street, London WC1H OBT, UK
*
*Corresponding author:Dr Mario Soares, fax +61 3 9244 5338, email [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A lower BMR of Indians, when compared with Westerners matched for age, sex, and either surface area or body weight, has often been reported in the literature and has been interpreted to reflect an ethnic influence on BMR. To determine the contribution of body composition to these observed differences in BMR, we analysed the data on ninety-six Indians and eighty-one Caucasian Australians of both sexes, aged 18–30 years, studied in Bangalore, India and Melbourne, Australia. Absolute BMR and BMR adjusted for body weight were significantly lower in Indians when compared with Australians of the corresponding sex. However, BMR adjusted for fat-free mass (FFM) in men, and BMR adjusted for FFM and fat mass (FM) in women, were not significantly different between the two groups. Stepwise regression of FFM, FM, sex (0 = women; 1 = men) and ethnicity (0 = Indian; 1 = Australian) on BMR, resulted in the following relationship for the combined data on all subjects: BMR=88.7 × FFM (kg) + 1713 (n 177; r 0.92; r2 0.85; see 425 kJ). The Indian equations of Hayter & Henry (1994), based on body weight, resulted in a significant bias (measured – predicted BMR) of 318 (SE 54) kJ/d in Indian men and -409 (SE 70) kJ/d in Indian women. The equation of Cunningham (1991), based on FFM, accurately predicted the BMR of Indian men, Indian women and Australian men. The small but significant bias of 185 (SE 61)kJ/d in Australian women, may be explained by the significant contribution of FM to BMR in this group. The present study does not provide any evidence for an ethnic influence on basal metabolism. The results strongly support the use of FFM, rather than body weight, for the prediction of BMR in population groups of varying body size and composition. This would allow an accurate estimation of BMR and hence energy requirements in population groups worldwide.

Keywords

Basal metabolic rateEthnic originBody composition
Type
Human and Clinical Nutrition
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 79 , Issue 4 , April 1998 , pp. 333 - 341
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1998

References

Banerjee, S (1962) Studies in Energy Metabolism. Indian Council of Medical Research Special Report Series no. 43. New Delhi: Indian Council of Medical Research.Google Scholar
Bland, JM & Altman, DG (1986) Statistical methods for assessing the agreement between two methods of clinical measurement. Lancet 1, 307–310.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Burkinshaw, L (1985) Measurements of human body composition in vivo. In Progress in Medical Radiation Physics, Vol. 2, pp. 113–137 [Orton, CG, editor]. New York: Plenum Publishing Corporation.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clark, HD & Hoffer, LJ (1991) Reappraisal of the resting metabolic rate of normal young men. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 53, 21–26.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cunningham, JJ (1991) Body composition as a determinant of energy expenditure: a synthetic review and a proposed general prediction equation. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 54, 963–969.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daly, JM, Heymsfield, SB, Head, CA, Harvey, LP, Nixon, DW, Katzeff, H & Grossman, GD (1985) Human energy requirement: overestimation by widely used prediction equation. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 42, 1170–1174.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
de Boer, JO, van Es, AJH, Voorrips, LE, Blockstra, F & Vogt, JE (1988) Energy metabolism and requirements in different ethnic groups. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 42, 983–997.Google ScholarPubMed
Draper, NR & Smith, H (1981) Applied Regression Analysis, 2nd ed. New York: John Wiley and Sons.Google Scholar
Durnin, JGVA (1996) Energy requirements: general principles. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 50, Suppl. 1, S2–S9.Google ScholarPubMed
Durnin, JVGA & Womersley, J (1974) Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurement on 481 men and women aged 16–72 years. British Journal of Nutrition 32, 77–97.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization/United Nations University (1985) Energy and Protein Requirements. Technical Report SeriesGeneva:World Health Organization.Google Scholar
Garby, L, Garrow, JS, Jorgensen, B, Lammert, O, Madsen, K, Sorensen, P & Webster, J (1988) Relation between energy expenditure and body composition in man: specific energy expenditure in vivo of fat and fat-free tissue. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 42, 301–305.Google ScholarPubMed
Garby, L & Lammert, O (1992) An explanation for the nonlinearity of the relation between energy expenditure and fat free mass. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 46, 235–236.Google ScholarPubMed
Garby, L & Lammert, O (1994) Between-subject variation in energy expenditure: estimation of the effect of variation in organ size. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 48, 376–378.Google Scholar
Harris, JA & Benedict, FG (1919) A Biometric Study of Basal Metabolism in Man. Publication no. 279. Washington: Carnegie Institution.Google Scholar
Harrison, GC, Buskirk, ER, Lindsay, Carter JE, Johnston, FE, Lohman, TG, Pollock, ML, Roche, AF & Wilmore, J (1988) Skinfold thicknesses and measurement technique. In Anthro-pometric Standardization Reference Manual, pp. 55–70 [LohmanTG, TG,, Roche, AF and Martorell, R, editors]. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics Books.Google Scholar
Hayter, JE & Henry, CJK (1993) Basal metabolic rate in human subjects migrating between tropical and temperate regions: a longitudinal study and review of previous work. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 47, 724–734.Google ScholarPubMed
Hayter, JE & Henry, CJK (1994) A re-examination of basal metabolic rate predictive equations: the importance of geographic origin of subjects in sample selection. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 48, 702–707.Google ScholarPubMed
Henry, CJK, Piggott, S & Emery, B (1987) Basal metabolic rate and diet-induced thermogenesis in Asians living in Britain. Human Nutrition: Clinical Nutrition 41C, 397–402.Google Scholar
Henry, CJK & Rees, DG (1988) A preliminary analysis of basal metabolic rate and race. In Comparative Nutrition, Proceedings of the Rank Prize Funds International Symposium on Nutrition, pp. 149–159 [Blaxter, K and Macdonald, I, editors]. London: John Libbey.Google Scholar
Henry, CJK & Rees, DG (1991) New predictive equations for the estimation of basal metabolic rate in tropical peoples. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 45, 177–185.Google ScholarPubMed
Heshka, S, Yang, MU, Wang, J, Burt, P & Pi-Sunyer, FX (1990) Fat loss and change in resting energy expenditure. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 52, 981–986.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hill, GL, McCarthy, ID, Collins, JP & Smith, AH (1978) A new method for the rapid measurement of body composition in critically ill surgical patients. British Journal of Surgery 65, 732–791.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hill, JO, Heymsfield, SB, McMannus, C & DiGirolamo, M (1984) Meal size and thermic response to food in male subjects as a function of maximum aerobic capacity. Metabolism 33, 743–749.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
James, WPT, Ferro-Luzzi, A & Waterlow, JC (1988) Definition of CED in adults. Report of a working party of the International Dietary and Energy Consultative Group. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 42, 969–981.Google ScholarPubMed
Khanna, LC & Manchanda, SS (1946) Basal metabolic studies in Punjab. Indian Medical Gazette 81, 458–460.Google ScholarPubMed
King, RFGJ (1985) The assessment of short term changes in body fat by skinfold, body compartment and gas exchange measurement. In Human Body Composition and Fat Distribution. Report no. 8, pp. 81–91 [Norgan, NG, editor]. Wageningen: EURO-NUT.Google Scholar
Klausen, B, Toubro, S & Astrup, A (1997) Age and sex effects on energy expenditure. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 65, 895–907.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kleinbaum, DG, Kupper, LL & Muller, KE (1988) Applied Regression Analysis and Other Multivariate Methods, 2nd ed. Boston: PWS-KENT Publishing Company.Google Scholar
Krishnan, BT & Vareed, C (1932) Basal metabolism of young college students, men and women in Madras. Indian Journal of Medical Research 20, 831–858.Google Scholar
Lawrence, M, Thongprasert, K & Durnin, JGVA (1988) Between-group differences in basal metabolic rate: an analysis of data collected in Scotland, The Gambia and Thailand. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 42, 877–891.Google ScholarPubMed
McNeill, G, Rivers, JPR, Payne, PR, de, Britto JJ & Abel, R (1987) Basal metabolic rate of Indian men: no evidence of metabolic adaptation to a low plane of nutrition. Human Nutrition: Clinical Nutrition 41C, 473–483.Google Scholar
Mahadeva, K (1954) The energy expenditure at rest of Southern Asiatics in Britain. Indian Journal of Medical Research 42, 181–190.Google ScholarPubMed
Mason, ED & Benedict, FG (1931) The basal metabolism of South Indian women. Indian Journal of Medical Research 19, 75–98.Google Scholar
Mason, ED, Mundkur, V & Jacob, M (1963) Basal energy metabolism and heights, weights, arm skinfold and muscle of young Indian women in Bombay, with prediction standards for BMR. Indian Journal of Medical Research 51, 925–932.Google Scholar
Mifflin, MD, St-Jeor, ST, Hill, LA, Scott, BJ, Daugherty, SA & Koh, YO (1990) A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 51, 241–247.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mukherjee, HN & Gupta, PC (1931) The basal metabolism of Indians (Bengalis). Indian Journal of Medical Research 11, 807–811.Google Scholar
Munro, AF (1950) Basal metabolic rates and physical fitness scores of British and Indian males in the tropics. Journal of Physiology 110, 356–366.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nelson, KM, Weinsier, RL, Long, CL & Schutz, Y (1992) Prediction of resting energy expenditure from fat-free mass and fat mass. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 56, 848–856.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Niyogi, SP, Patwardhan, UN & Modecai, J (1939) Studies on basal metabolism in Bombay. Indian Journal of Medical Research 27, 99–133.Google Scholar
Owen, OE, Holup, JL, D'Allessio, DA, Craig, ES, Polansky, M, Smalley, KJ, Kavle, EC, Bushman, MC, Owen, LR, Mozzoli, MA, Kendrick, ZV & Boden, GH (1987) A reappraisal of the caloric requirements of men. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 46, 875–885.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Owen, OE, Kavle, E, Owen, RS, Polansky, M, Caprio, S, Mozzoli, MA, Kendrick, ZV, Bushman, MC & Boden, G (1986) A reappraisal of caloric requirements in healthy women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 44, 1–19.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Piers, LS, Diffey, B, Soares, MJ, Frandsen, SL, McCormack, LM, Lutschini, MJ & O'Dea, K (1997) The validity of predicting the basal metabolic rates of young Australian men and women. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 51, 333–337.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Piers, LS & Shetty, PS (1993) Basal metabolic rates of Indian women. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 47, 586–591.Google ScholarPubMed
Quenouille, MH, Boyce, AW, Fisher, WB & Leitch, I (1951) Statistical Analysis of Recorded Energy Expenditure of Men. Part 1. Basal Metabolism Related to Sex, Stature, Age, Climate and Race. Commonwealth Bureau of Animal Nutrition Technical Communications no. 17. Aberdeen: Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau.Google Scholar
Rahman, SA (1936) Basal metabolism of young men at Hyderabad, Deccan, with a study of their physical characters. Indian Journal of Medical Research 24, 173–199.Google Scholar
Rajagopal, K (1938) The basal metabolism of Indian and European men on the Nilgiris Hills (S. India). Indian Journal of Medical Research 26, 411–426.Google Scholar
Ravussin, E & Bogardus, C (1989) Relationship of genetics, age and physical activity to daily energy expenditure and fuel utilization. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 49, 968–975.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roza, AM & Shizgal, HM (1984) The Harris Benedict equation re-evaluated: resting energy requirements and the body cell mass. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 40, 168–182.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schofield, WN, Schofield, C & James, WPT (1985) Basal metabolic rate – review and prediction together with an annotated bibliography of source material. Human Nutrition: Clinical Nutrition 39C, Suppl.1, 5–96.Google Scholar
Segal, KR (1987) Comparison of indirect calorimetric measurements of resting energy expenditure with ventilated hood, face mask and mouthpiece. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 45, 1420–1423.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shetty, PS (1993) Chronic undernutrition and metabolic adaptation. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 52, 267–284.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shetty, PS, Henry, CJK, Black, AE & Prentice, AM (1996) Energy requirements of adults: an update on basal metabolic rates (BMRs) and physical activity levels (PALs). European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 50, Suppl. 1, S11–S23.Google ScholarPubMed
Shetty, PS, Soares, MJ & Sheela, ML (1988) Basal Metabolic Rates of South Indian Males. Bangalore, India: FAO.Google Scholar
Shiv, Kumar NK & Sachar, RS (1961) Basal metabolic rate in normal Indian adult males. Indian Journal of Medical Research 49, 702–709.Google Scholar
Soares, MJ, Francis, DG & Shetty, PS (1993) Predictive equations for basal metabolic rates of Indian males. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 47, 389–394.Google ScholarPubMed
Soares, MJ, Piers, LS, Shetty, PS, Jackson, AA & Waterlow, JC (1994) Whole body turnover in chronically undernourished individuals. Clinical Science 86, 441–446.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Soares, MJ, Sheela, ML, Kurpad, AV, Kulkarni, RN & Shetty, PS (1989) The influence of different methods on basal metabolic rate measurements in human subjects. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 50, 731–736.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Soares, MJ & Shetty, PS (1984) Resting metabolic rates of Indian subjects with low body mass index on normal energy intakes. In Human Energy Metabolism: Physical Activity and Energy Expenditure Measurements in Epidemiological Research Based upon Direct and Indirect Calorimetry, pp. 227–228 [Es van, JH, editor]. Wageningen: EURO-NUT Report 5.Google Scholar
Soares, MJ & Shetty, PS (1988) Validity of Schofield's predictive equations for basal metabolic rates of Indians. Indian Journal of Medical Research 88, 253–260.Google ScholarPubMed
Soares, MJ & Shetty, PS (1991). Basal metabolic rates and metabolic economy in chronic undernutrition. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 45, 363–373.Google ScholarPubMed
Solomon, SJ, Kurzer, MS & Calloway, DH (1982) Menstrual cycle and basal metabolic rate in women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 36, 611–616.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stoner, HB (1982) Assessment of energy expenditure. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society 41, 349–353.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ulijaszek, SJ & Strickland, SS (1991) Basal metabolic rate and physique of Gurkha and British soldiers stationed in Britain. Annals of Human Biology 18, 245–251.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Waterlow, JC (1988) The variability of energy metabolism in man. In Comparative Nutrition, pp. 133–139 [Blaxter, K and Waterlow, JC, editors]. London: John Libbey & Company.Google Scholar
Weinsier, RL, Schutz, Y & Bracco, D (1992) Reexamination of the relationship of resting metabolic rate to fat-free mass and to the metabolically active components of fat-free mass in humans. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 55, 790–794.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wilson, EA (1945) Basal metabolism from the standpoint of racial anthropology. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 3, 1–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar