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Basal metabolic rate in children with a solid tumour

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 55, pages 673–681 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To study the level of and changes in basal metabolic rate (BMR) in children with a solid tumour at diagnosis and during treatment in order to provide a more accurate estimate of energy requirements for nutritional support.

Design: An observational study.

Setting: Tertiary care at the Centre for Paediatric Oncology, University Hospital Nijmegen.

Subjects: Thirteen patients were recruited from a population of patients visiting the University Hospital Nijmegen for treatment. All patients asked to participate took part in and completed the study.

Intervention: BMR was measured by indirect calorimetry, under stringent, standardised conditions, for 20 min and on three different occasions in all patients. Continuous breath gas analysis using a mouthpiece was performed. Weight, height and skinfold measurements were performed before each measurement.

Main outcome measures: BMR was expressed as percentage of the estimated reference value, according to the Schofield formulas based on age, weight and sex, and in kJ (kcal) per kg of fat-free mass.

Results: At diagnosis, the BMR was higher than the estimated reference BMR in all patients and 44% of the patients were considered hypermetabolic. Mean BMR (as percentage of reference) was significantly increased (11.6% (s.d. 6.7%); P=0.001), but decreased during treatment in 12 of the 13 patients (mean decrease 12.7% (s.d. 3.9%); P<0.0001). Furthermore, a significant negative correlation (P=−0.67; P=0.01) was found between the change in BMR and tumour response.

Conclusions: These data suggest that the BMR of children with a solid tumour is increased at diagnosis and possibly during the first phase of oncologic treatment. This may be important when determining energy requirements for nutritional support.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 673–681

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Author notes

  1. E den Broeder: Guarantor: E den Broeder.

    E den Broeder: Contributors: EdB, BO and RJJL designed the study. E den Broeder was the principal investigator, managed the study, interpreted the results, and wrote the drafts and final version of the manuscript. MAv’tH collaborated in the statistical analysis of data and the interpretation of results. BO, WAvS, RCAS, RJJL and JJMT contributed to the interpretation of the results and the writing of the manuscript. EdB may be identified as guarantor and is, therefore, prepared to be accountable for all parts of the completed manuscript, before and after publication.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    E den Broeder, RJJ Lippens, RCA Sengers & JJM Tolboom

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    B Oeseburg

  3. Division of Human Nutrition and Epidemiology, Wageningen University Centre, The Netherlands

    WA van Staveren

  4. Department of Medical Statistics, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    MA van’t Hof

Authors
  1. E den Broeder
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  2. B Oeseburg
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  3. RJJ Lippens
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  4. WA van Staveren
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  5. RCA Sengers
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  6. MA van’t Hof
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  7. JJM Tolboom
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Correspondence to E den Broeder.

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den Broeder, E., Oeseburg, B., Lippens, R. et al. Basal metabolic rate in children with a solid tumour. Eur J Clin Nutr 55, 673–681 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601199

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601199

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