Highlights
- •Adaptive thermogenesis (AT) refers to metabolic slowing during caloric restriction.
- •AT can be detected as early as the first week of daily caloric restriction (CR).
- •AT is consistent during prolonged CR and affects daily energy balance during CR.
- •Early AT predicts subsequent weight loss and fat mass loss following 6-week of CR.
Abstract
Background
Adaptive thermogenesis during prolonged energy deficit refers to the greater than expected reduction in
energy expenditure (EE) independent of concomitant loss of metabolically active body
mass.
Objective
As inter-individual variability in the magnitude of adaptive thermogenesis may influence
the extent of energy deficit thereby predicting the amount of weight reduction, we
investigated whether early adaptive thermogenesis is a determinant of weight loss
after 6 weeks of daily 50% caloric restriction in an inpatient setting.
Design and methods
The current study reports the results of an exploratory, secondary analysis in overweight
but otherwise healthy subjects (n = 11, 7 men, 35 ± 9y, BMI = 40 ± 7 kg/m2, body fat = 63.3 ± 5.3%). Body composition and 24-h EE (24hEE) measurement in a whole-room
indirect calorimeter were used to calculate the magnitude of adaptive thermogenesis
while on caloric restriction after 1, 3 and 6 weeks. Energy deficit during caloric
restriction was quantified via food, stool, and urine bomb calorimetry. Fasting hormonal
concentrations (FT4, FT3, FGF21, leptin) were obtained at baseline and at weeks 3
and 6 during caloric restriction.
Results
The magnitude of adaptive thermogenesis in 24hEE after 1 week of caloric restriction
was −178 ± 137 kcal/day (mean ± SD), was overall stable during and following caloric
restriction, and demonstrated remarkable intra-individual consistency. A relatively
greater decrease in 24hEE of 100 kcal/d after 1 week of caloric restriction was associated
on average with reduced energy deficit by 8195 kcal over 6 weeks and predicted 2.0 kg
less weight loss, of which 0.5 kg was fat mass, after 6 weeks. No correlations were
found between hormonal concentrations and weight loss.
Conclusions
The extent of weight loss is influenced by the magnitude of adaptive thermogenesis
in the early stage of caloric restriction. Although these results need replication
in larger study groups with adequate statistical power, targeting adaptive thermogenesis
may help to optimize long-term interventions in obesity therapy.
Abbreviations:
24hEE (24-h energy expenditure), 24hRQ (24-h respiratory quotient), AFT (awake-fed thermogenesis), CARBOX (carbohydrate oxidation rate), CED (cumulative energy deficit), DAF (daily activity factor), DXA (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), EE0 (energy expenditure in the inactive state), LIPOX (lipid oxidation rate), FFM (fat-free mass), FM (fat mass), OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test), PROTOX (protein oxidation rate), SLEEP (sleeping energy expenditure), SPA (spontaneous physical activity), WMD (weight maintaining diet)Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 26, 2020
Accepted:
June 25,
2020
Received:
April 3,
2020
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc.
