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Horm Metab Res 1990; 22(12): 632-635
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1004990
Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart · New York

Resting Metabolic Rate, Body Composition and Thyroid Hormones

Short Term Effects of Very Low Calorie DietE. Cavallo, F. Armellini, M. Zamboni, R. Vicentini, M. P. Milani, O. Bosello
  • Institute of Clinica Medica, University of Verona, Policlinico di Borgo Roma, Verona, Italy
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Publication History

1989

1990

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

27 obese women (relative body weight 191 ± 27%), aged 35 ± 11, underwent a 15 day very low calorie diet (VLCD: 1337 kJ/day). Mean body weight loss was 6 ± 1.5 kg. Resting metabolic rate (RMR), measured by indirect calorimetry, showed a significant decrease both in absolute values (from 1793 ± 225 to 1569 ± 231 kcal/day; P < 0.001), and in kcal/kg body weight/day (from 17 ± 2, to 16 ± 2, P < 0.001). Serum triiodiothyronine (T3) significantly decreased from 1.1 ± 0.2 to 1 ± 0.2 μg/l (P < 0.001). Before VLCD the differences between measured RMR and theoretical RMR (RMR-T) were not significant. After VLCD RMR values were significantly (P < 0.001) lower than RMR-T. It was concluded that fat-free mass loss, combined with periferic thyroxin (T4) reduced monodeiodination in its more active form mainly due to low calorie intake T3 could be responsible for the important reduction observed in the resting metabolic rate.

Key words

Obesity - Thyroid - Thermogenesis - Calorimetry - Diet - Weight Reduction - Very Low Calorie Diet