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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #66591
Title: ADAPTATIONS IN ENERGY METABOLISM DURING LACTATION

Author
item BUTTE, NANCY - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE
item HOPKINSON, JUDY - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE
item MOON, JON - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE
item WONG, WILLIAM - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE
item ELLIS, KENNETH - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE

Submitted to: Experimental Biology
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: To investigate possible energetic adaptations during lactation, the energy costs of lactation and energy expenditure were measured in 40 fully lactating women and 30 nonlactating controls at 3 mo postpartum. Basal metabolic rate (BMR), sleeping metabolic rate (SMR), 24-h sedentary energy expenditure (SEE) and substrate net utilization were measured in a room respiration calorimeter. Exercise efficiency was computed from treadmill walking and VO2max from cycle ergometry. Total EE (TEE) and activity EE (AEE) were measured by doubly-labeled water during and after cessation of lactation. Lactating Nonlactating p-value BMR (kcal/d) 1402 +/- 171 1373 +/- 152 NS SMR (kcal/min) 0.98 +/- 0.12 0.93 +/- 0.10 0.001 SEE (kcal/d) 1874 +/- 208 1752 +/- 181 0.001 Net CHO utilization (g/d) 221 +/- 50 216 +/- 41 NS Net fat utilization (g/d) 62 +/- 18 60 +/- 21 NS Net walking EE (kcal/min) 2.25 +/- 0.45 2.26 +/- 0.40 NS VO2max (L/min) 2.0 +/- 0.5 1.9 +/- 0.4 NS Milk energy output was 530+/-137 kcal/d. TEE and AEE did not differ during and after lactation. BMR, substrate utilization, and exercise efficiency did not differ. Increased SMR and SEE was attributed to milk synthesis. The energy costs of lactation were not met by energy sparing mechanisms.