A Comparison of Commonly Used Prediction Equations for Estimating Resting Metabolic Rate in Adults With Down Syndrome.
Brian C Helsel, Joseph R Sherman, Amy E Bodde and 2 others
PMID 39921607WHAT IT FOUND
Most common resting metabolic rate equations overestimated measured resting metabolic rate in 25 adults with Down syndrome.
The Bernstein fat-free mass equation was closest, but it requires a body-composition scan.
Key findings
01Nearly all equations overestimated measured resting metabolic rate, except the Bernstein fat-free mass equation for females and the Owen fat-free mass equation for females with BMI 30 or higher.
02The Bernstein fat-free mass equation was the closest estimate of measured resting metabolic rate, and its difference from measured resting metabolic rate stayed within the pre-set range of −85.1 to 85.1 kcal/day.
03Equations that included fat-free mass generally gave closer estimates, and the Bernstein, Mifflin fat-free mass and Owen fat-free mass equations had the narrowest 95% limits of agreement.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The study included only 25 adults with Down syndrome, and the analysis was unpowered, so the findings need confirmation in a larger sample. Participants had to communicate through spoken language and lie under a ventilated canopy, so the results may not apply to non-verbal adults or people who cannot tolerate the tests. The study did not include age-, sex- and weight-matched adults without Down syndrome. Comorbidities that may affect resting metabolic rate, such as hypothyroidism, were not assessed. The closest equation required fat-free mass from a DXA scan, which may be inaccessible or burdensome in some clinics.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat the Bernstein fat-free mass equation as a ready-made clinical tool. The study was unpowered, included only 25 adults with Down syndrome who could speak and complete testing, and the equation needs fat-free mass from a DXA scan.