INCREASED RESTING LIPID OXIDATION IN CROHNS-DISEASE

Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured by indirect calorimetry and body composition was assessed by both direct (bioimpedance) and in direct (anthropometry) methods in 20 hospitalized patients with biopsy -proven ileal Crohn's disease and in a group of 16 healthy volunteers matched for sex, age, and height with the patient group. The Crohn's d isease activity index was below 120 in all patients studied, who were treated with a low dose of corticosteroids (0.2-0.3 mg/kg body wt of p rednisone). The average weight of Crohn's patients was significantly l ower than that of controls (55.70 vs 70.50 kg, P < 0.001) due to both lower fat mass (9.97 vs 18.30 kg, P < 0.001) and lower lean body mass (45.72 vs 52.20 kg, P < 0.02). The average REE was significantly highe r in the control group (1785.42 +/- 7.503 vs 1559.1 +/- 48.39 kcal/day , P < 0.001). However, these differences disappeared when REE was norm alized by lean body mass (LBM) (34.49 +/- 2.56 vs 34.704 +/- 3.75 kcal /kg LBM P = NS). The nonprotein respiratory quotient was significantly lower in the patient group (0.823 +/- 0.031 vs 0.882 +/- 0.012, P < 0 .025), indicating an increased lipid oxidation. This increased lipid o xidation might explain the reduced fat stores found in the group of Cr ohn's patients, suggesting also that a sufficiently lipid-rich diet co uld be useful in their nutritional management.