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Body composition, energy expenditure and physical activity

Metabolic rate of major organs and tissues in young adult South Asian women

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 73, pages 1164–1171 (2019)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives

Major organ-specific and tissue-specific metabolic rate (Ki) values were initially estimated using in vivo methods, and values reported by Elia (Energy metabolism: tissue determinants and cellular corollaries, Raven Press, New York, 1992) were subsequently supported by statistical analysis. However, the majority of work to date on this topic has addressed individuals of European descent, whereas population variability in resting energy metabolism has been reported. We aimed to estimate Ki values in South Asian females.

Subjects/Methods

This cross-sectional study recruited 70 healthy young women of South Asian ancestry. Brain and organs were measured using magnetic resonance imaging, skeletal muscle mass by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, fat mass by the 4-component model, and whole-body resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry. Organ and tissue Ki values were estimated indirectly using regression analysis through the origin. Preliminary analysis suggested overestimation of heart mass, hence the modeling was repeated with a literature-based 22.5% heart mass reduction.

Results

The pattern of derived Ki values across organs and tissues matched that previously estimated in vivo, but the values were systematically lower. However, adjusting for the overestimation of heart mass markedly improved the agreement.

Conclusions

Our results support variability in Ki values among organs and tissues, where some are more metabolically “expensive” than others. Initial findings suggesting lower organ/tissue Ki values in South Asian women were likely influenced by heart mass estimation bias. The question of potential ethnic variability in organ-specific and tissue-specific energy metabolism requires further investigation.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported in part by a Dissertation Fieldwork Grant awarded by the Wenner-Gren Foundation to MKS.

Funding

OJA was funded by a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Clinician Scientist Fellowship award (NIHR-CS-012-002), and supported by Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Children’s Charity and NIHR GOSH Biomedical Research Center. SE was supported by Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and NIHR GOSH Biomedical Research Center. TJC was funded by Medical Research Council grant MR/M012069/1. This article presents independent research funded by the NIHR and the views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, or the Department of Health. None of the funders were involved in the design or interpretation of the results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK

    Meghan K. Shirley, Owen J. Arthurs, Kiran K. Seunarine, Tim J. Cole, Simon Eaton, Jane E. Williams, Chris A. Clark & Jonathan C. K. Wells

  2. Department of Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK

    Owen J. Arthurs

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Correspondence to Meghan K. Shirley.

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Shirley, M.K., Arthurs, O.J., Seunarine, K.K. et al. Metabolic rate of major organs and tissues in young adult South Asian women. Eur J Clin Nutr 73, 1164–1171 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-018-0362-0

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