Energy balance in children and young adults receiving haemodialysis for chronic renal failure

• Published in: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Scotland), 1995-12, Vol.14 (6), p.341-347
• Main Authors: TOUNIAN, P, SALAUN, J. F, BENSMAN, A, MELCHIOR, J. C, VEINBERG, F, MORGANT, G, FONTAINE, J. L, GIRARDET, J. P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Medical sciences; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Nephropathies. Renovascular diseases. Renal failure; Renal failure
• ISSN: 0261-5614; 1532-1983

This study was designed to determine the contribution of energy expenditure to the energy imbalance seen in uraemic children. Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured using open-circuit indirect calorimetry in eight uraemic haemodialysed subjects aged 9.3-20.4 years and in 10 healthy children. Linear correlations between REE and both body weight and fat-free mass as measured by anthropometry were found in both controls and uraemic subjects (respectively: r = 0.76 and r = 0.88 for body weight and r = 0.73 and r = 0.90 for fat-free mass). Measured REE in uraemic patients was not different from the value predicted by using actual body weight and fat-free mass in the regression equation of REE on body weight and fat-free mass in controls (paired t test: p = 0.70 and p = 0.19 respectively). These data suggest that the energy imbalance seen in uraemic children is not due to increased energy expenditure and is therefore probably due to decreased food intake.