Examining Resting and Total Energy Expenditure in Patients with Cancer

• Author / Creator

  Purcell, Sarah A

• Energy expenditure forms the basis of all dietary recommendations. In patients with cancer, resting energy expenditure (REE) can be impacted by tumor burden, high systemic inflammation, and/or altered body composition. Total energy expenditure (TEE) and physical activity levels (PAL) have been characterized primarily in patients with advanced disease or severe weight loss, which may not represent many individuals with cancer. The overall aims of this research were to investigate the determinants of REE and to characterize TEE in relation to body weight, body composition, PAL, and current energy recommendations in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Additionally, this research aimed to examine the validity of REE predictive equations and a portable indirect calorimeter in patients with solid tumors. REE was measured by indirect calorimetry and TEE was ascertained using doubly labeled water. Body composition was determined using dual X-ray absorptiometry or computerized tomography image analysis. This research showed that REE was not accurately estimated by predictive equations; even the most accurate equation (Mifflin St.-Jeor) still under-predicted REE by up to 32.4 % (-440 kcal/day) and over-predicted REE by up to 18.1% (261 kcal/day). Error was influenced by age and fat mass. A portable indirect calorimeter also did not accurately measure REE (average error ± two standard deviations: -467 to 363 kcal/day). In newly diagnosed patients with CRC, body weight, body composition, age, and sex predicted approximately 80% of REE variability. However, inflammation change and stage IV cancer predicted the REE change over time in patients with stage III or IV CRC. In individuals with mostly earlier stage CRC, TEE was 2473 ± 499 kcal/day (range: 1562 to 3622 kcal/day), or 29.7 ± 6.3 kcal/kg body weight (range: 20.4 to 48.5 kcal/kg body weight/day). Average PAL was 1.43 ± 0.27, which was higher than previously reported in cancer, despite a high prevalence of elevated REE. Energy estimation using 25 kcal/kg underestimated TEE (-12.6 ± 16.5%, p=0.002) and individual agreement with all other energy recommendations was poor. The major finding of this research was that REE and TEE (and consequently PAL) were highly variable in patients with cancer, which is not captured by current predictive equations, portable tools, or energy recommendations. Furthermore, body composition is a major determinant of REE at one timepoint and factors such as inflammation and cancer stage impact REE change across time. This research highlights the heterogeneity in energy metabolism in patients with cancer and will contribute to the formation of evidence-based dietary recommendations, considering disease stage, cancer type, body weight, body composition, and/or physical activity, with the ultimate goal of improving cancer care.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Nutritional status
  • Energy metabolism
  • Energy expenditure
  • Body composition
  • Nutrition
  • Cancer
  • Physical activity

• Graduation date

  Spring 2019

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Doctor of Philosophy

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-r8h9-6243

• License

  Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission.