Resting energy expenditure in adolescents with Down syndrome: a comparison of commonly used predictive equations.
B C Helsel, R P Shook, B Forseth and 7 others
PMID 36423896WHAT IT FOUND
The Institute of Medicine equation accurately predicted resting energy expenditure in adolescents with Down syndrome, matching measured values.
Other common equations overestimated or underestimated needs by up to 140 kcal per day. Use IOM for weight management, but monitor individual responses carefully.
Key findings
01The Institute of Medicine equation was the only one statistically equivalent to measured resting energy expenditure.
02Other equations varied widely, with percent differences ranging from underprediction by 8.6% to overprediction by 10.4%.
03Individual variation remains significant, as 24% of participants had a difference of more than 200 kcal per day even with the best equation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study did not compare results to age, sex, and weight-matched controls without Down syndrome, so it cannot confirm if energy expenditure differs from typically developing peers. Participants were required to have sufficient cognitive ability to understand directions and communicate through spoken language, which may limit generalizability to adolescents with more significant intellectual disabilities or non-verbal communication. Individual variability remained high even with the best equation, meaning predictions are not precise for every patient.
Declared interests
The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and non-U.S. government sources. No commercial conflicts of interest or specific sponsor roles in design/writing were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the Institute of Medicine equation is perfectly accurate for every adolescent with Down syndrome. It showed individual variations of more than 200 kcal per day in nearly a quarter of participants, so clinical monitoring is still required.