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Energy cost of physical activity in cystic fibrosis

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 55, pages 690–697 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the energy cost of standardized physical activity (ECA) between patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and healthy control subjects.

Design: Cross-sectional study using patients with CF and volunteers from the community.

Setting: University laboratory.

Subjects: Fifteen patients (age 24.6±4.6 y) recruited with consent from their treating physician and 16 healthy control subjects (age 25.3±3.2) recruited via local advertisement.

Interventions: Patients and controls walked on a computerised treadmill at 1.5 km/h for 60 min followed by a 60 min recovery period and, on a second occasion, cycled at 0.5 kp (kilopond), 30 rpm followed by a 60 min recovery. The ECA was measured via indirect calorimetry. Resting energy expenditure (REE), nutritional status, pulmonary function and genotype were determined.

Results: The REE in patients was significantly greater than the REE measured in controls (P=0.03) and was not related to the severity of lung disease or genotype. There was a significant difference between groups when comparing the ECA for walking kg √FFM (P=0.001) and cycling kg √FFM (P=0.04). The ECA for each activity was adjusted (ECAadj) for the contribution of REE (ECA kJ kg √FFM 120 min−1−REE kJ kg √FFM 120 min−1). ECAadj revealed a significant difference between groups for the walking protocol (P=0.001) but no difference for the cycling protocol (P=0.45). This finding may be related to the fact that the work rate during walking was more highly regulated than during cycling.

Conclusions: ECA in CF is increased and is likely to be explained by an additional energy-requiring component related to the exercise itself and not an increased REE.

Sponsorship: The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation; MLR was in receipt of a QUTPRA Scholarship.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 690–697

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a grant from The Prince Charles Hospital Research Trust. MLR held a scholarship from QUT. The authors are grateful to nursing staff at The Prince Charles Hospital for their assistance with the study.

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Author notes

  1. ML Richards: Guarantor: ML Richards.

  2. ML Richards, PSW Davies and SC Bell: Contributors: MLR was responsible for subject recruitment, data analysis, testing, and manuscript preparation. PSWD was responsible for supervision of testing, data analysis and manuscript preparation. SCB was responsible for subject recruitment and manuscript preparation.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human Movement Studies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

    ML Richards & PSW Davies

  2. Adult Cystic Fibrosis Unit, The Prince Charles Hospital and University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    SC Bell

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  1. ML Richards
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  2. PSW Davies
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  3. SC Bell
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Correspondence to ML Richards.

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Richards, M., Davies, P. & Bell, S. Energy cost of physical activity in cystic fibrosis. Eur J Clin Nutr 55, 690–697 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601201

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