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Basal metabolic rate of Brazilians living in the Southwestern United States

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 61, pages 290–294 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Estimation of energy requirements relies on adequate values of basal metabolic rate (BMR). Prediction equations recommended for international use have been shown to overestimate BMR in populations living in the tropics. We have previously shown the inadequacy of these equations in samples of Brazilians living in tropical and temperate regions of the country. We sought to investigate whether BMR could adequately be estimated by prediction equations in a sample of Brazilians living in a different setting: the Sonoran desert of the Southwestern USA. BMR was measured under standard conditions in 33 subjects (14 men). Mean bias (estimated–measured) varied from 404.4 to 708.6 kJ day−1 in women and 566.8 to 1122.8 kJ day−1 in men, representing 8.5–15 and 8.9–17.6% overestimation, respectively, using the Schofield equations. Bland and Altman analyses showed large, relevant limits of agreement. The results using the recommended equations for the American population (IOM, 2005) were only 2% different from the Schofield equations. The Harris and Benedict equations yielded higher overestimations (15.0 and 16.8% for women and men, respectively) and the Henry and Rees equations also overestimated BMR (8.5 and 8.9%) even though they were developed for populations from the tropics, although to a lesser degree. It is concluded that the equations currently recommended for international use are not appropriate for Brazilians living in the Southwestern USA.

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Acknowledgements

VW and LAA received fellowships from the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq, Proc. 200837/03-6 and 200309/04-8).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    V Wahrlich & L A Anjos

  2. Departamento de Nutrição Social, Laboratório de Avaliação Nutricional e Funcional, Universidade Federal Flumimense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    L A Anjos

  3. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    S B Going

  4. Department of Physiology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    S B Going & T G Lohman

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  1. V Wahrlich
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  2. L A Anjos
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  4. T G Lohman
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Correspondence to L A Anjos.

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Wahrlich, V., Anjos, L., Going, S. et al. Basal metabolic rate of Brazilians living in the Southwestern United States. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 290–294 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602498

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