Total Energy Expenditure by the Doubly-Labeled Water Method in Rural Preschool Children in Cuba

Abstract

An evaluation of the capacity of the Cuban Nutrition Program for covering the energy requirements of children was carried out in children 5.0 ± 1.0 years of age in a rural mountain community in Cuba. Five males and six females (19 ± 3.05 kg average weight) with a mean BMI 15.4 ± 2.2 kg/m 2) were included in the study. Six of the subjects were well-nourished, three were undernourished, and two were overweight. Total energy expenditure was determined by the doubly-labeled water technique. Resting metabolic rate was measured by indirect calorimetry. Energy intake, measured by a three-day weighed dietary record, was 1,527 kcal/day (6.39 MJ). The total energy expenditure of the well-nourished children was 11.8% lower than present energy recommendations (1,773 kcal). This implies that well-nourished children who are moderately to heavily physically active require 82.6 kcal/kg per day. The physical activity level of normal Cuban children is nearly 1.8, which is much higher than that reported in studies of children from industrialized countries using the doubly-labeled water technique. The measured daily energy intake was 1.7 times the resting metabolic rate RMR and 1.04 times the total energy expenditure.

Daily energy expenditure through the human life course

“…These 6,421 measurements were used in this analysis. This dataset was augmented with published basal expenditure measurements for n=136 neonates and infants (31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36) that included fat free mass and fat mass. Malnourished or preterm infants were excluded.…”

Daily energy expenditure through the human life course

“…These 6,421 measurements were used in this analysis. This dataset was augmented with published basal expenditure measurements for n=136 neonates and infants (31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36) that included fat free mass and fat mass. Malnourished or preterm infants were excluded.…”

Underreporting of Energy Intake in Developing Nations

“…Hernández-Triana et al 42 applied the DLW method to evaluate if the Cuban program of food supplementation met children's nutritional requirements. The sample consisted of five boys and six girls; six were of normal weight, three were underweight, and two were overweight.…”

“…In spite of that, it is curious to observe that in the previously presented study, overweight seemed to be associated with underreporting, even in a more isolated society such as Cuba. 42 Table 1 outlines the studies on underreporting conducted in developing countries. Winkvist et al 46 studied underreporting of EI among Indonesian pregnant women enrolled in a cohort of epidemiological research.…”