COMPONENTS OF TOTAL-ENERGY EXPENDITURE IN FREE-LIVING ELDERLY MEN (OVER 75 YEARS OF AGE) - MEASUREMENT, PREDICTABILITY AND RELATIONSHIP TO QUALITY-OF-LIFE INDEXES

Current recommendations for energy requirements in the elderly are bas ed on assumed levels of physical activity relative to BMR (1.5 x BMR). The main aim of the present study was to establish whether these reco mmendations might be applicable to a randomly-selected group of free-l iving elderly men (all over 75 years of age). BMR was measured by indi rect calorimetry and total energy expenditure (TEE) by the doubly-labe lled-water technique. Further aims included evaluating the applicabili ty of a variety of BMR prediction equations and whether assessed quali ty of life reflected any measured indices of energy expenditure, The m ean value for daily energy requirement was found to be 1.5 x BMR (89 J /kg per min) but with substantial inter-individual variation (SD 0.2 x BMR; 14 J/kg per min). The bias between measured TEE and TEE estimate d (1.5 x BMR) from the various BMR predictions varied according to whi ch equation was used (-10- + 8 % of the mean) with substantial 95 % li mits of agreement (28-30 % of the mean). TEE and physical activity plu s thermogenesis (TEE-BMR) were positively related to activities of dai ly Living, but no relationships were apparent between these and percei ved quality of life. It is concluded that, despite considerable inter- individual variability, national recommendations for energy requiremen ts of elderly people are applicable to this randomly-selected group of free-living men over 75 years of age but that substantial variation e xists when attempts are made to estimate TEE from measurements or pred ictions of BMR.