PHYSIOLOGY PROTOCOL 1

Sara Repo
sr15011
20 September 2016

ENERGY METABOLISM
Aim:
Determine the energy metabolism of an individual.

Tasks:
1. Determination of:
a. Body surface area using the nomogram
b. Total body fluid volume using the nomogram
c. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) using the nomogram based on age, gender, body weight
and height.
2. Determination of the caloric value of O2 (CE02) for different substrates and mixed
substrate.
3. Calculate basal metabolic rate using results of indirect calorimetry.

Materials and methods:

1. Nomogram
2. Calculator
3. Indirect calorimetry reader (BREEZE)

Results:
1. Calculations according to nomogram:
a. Body surface area according to the nomogram for a 31-year-old female with a
height of 160 cm and weight of 54 kg was 1.55m2.
b. The total body fluid according to the nomogram for the same individual was 29
liters.
c. The standard basal metabolic rate according to the nomogram was 1323 kCal
(female, 54 kg = 1172 kCal; female, 160 cm, 31 years old = 151 kCal; 151 kCal + 1172
kCal = 1323 kCal)
2. Determination of caloric value of Oxygen
a. Glucose oxidation: C6H12O6 + 6O2  6 CO2 + 6H20
i. Respiratory quotient (RQ) = VCO2/VO2 = 6/6 = 1
ii. Caloric equivalent (CEO2) = O2-CEO2 = 5,047 kCal/CEO2
b. Palmitic acid oxidation: C16H32O2  16CO2 + 16H2O
i. RQ VCO2/VO2 = 16/23 = 0,696
ii. CEO2 = 4,678 kCal/CEO2
c. CEO2 mixed substrate = 0,65 x CEO2 gluc. + 0,35xCEO2 p.a. = 4,92 kCal/lO2
3. Determination of Basal Metabolic Rate:
a. Using calculations given results from Protocol booklet:

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 i.
RQ = 0,18/0,25 = 0,72
ii.
CE02 = 4,702 (from nomogram)
iii.
BMR = VO2 x CEO2 = (0,25lO2 x 60 x 24) x 4,702 = 1692,72 in 24 hours.
iv.BMR from nomogram = 1505 kCal/lO2 approx. (960kCal + 545 kCal; male,
height 165 cm, weight 65 kg, age 40 years)
b. Using BREEZE (indirect calorimetry) for subject PIERRE, 21 year old male with height
197 cm and weight 95 kg. See Chart 1. The RQ is the gas exchange (substrate).

VO2 VCO2 REE RQ

600 600 3500 1.0
540 540 3150 0.9
480 480 2800 0.8
420 420 2450 0.7
360 360 2100 0.6
300 300 1750 0.5
240 240 1400 0.4
180 180 1050 0.3
120 120 700 0.2
60 60 350 0.1
0 0
0 0.0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Time (Mid 5 of 7)
Chart 1. BREEZE results of indirect calorimetry for PIERRE

c. My own BMR, 31 year old female, height 160 cm and weight 54 kg. From
nomogram: 1172 kCal (weight, gender) + 151 kCal (from height, age) = 1323 kCal.
According to Table 1 in the pamphlet my mean daily needs would be 2800-3400
kCal, although because of my small size I would estimate that 2700 kCal is sufficient.

Discussion:
Metabolism describes all chemical and energy transformations occurring in the body,
whereas energy metabolism is the liberation of energy by the catabolism (destructive process by
which complex substances are converted by living cells in more simple compounds, thereby
releasing energy) of food in the body and the transformation of energy during physiological
functions. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the rate of energy release by an awake individual during
complete mental and physical rest. The metabolic rate is determined in complete quiescence, in a
room at comfortable temperature.
Calorimetry determines the metabolic rate of an organism or the caloric value of a
foodstuff. Indirect calorimetry determines the energy production in the human body by measuring
oxygen consumed, or by measuring the products of the biological oxidation (e.g. carbon dioxide

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output) using specialized equipment which measures an individual’s carbon dioxide output and
oxygen input while recording the results to a computer program (BREEZE). Indirect calorimetry
measures the substrates of gas exchange: O2 consumption and CO2 production.

Conclusions:
Results from the energy metabolism calculations indicate the individual is within normal
values for age, height and weight. The calculated BMR is reasonable for a person of this size.
However, these measurements and caloric intake requirements could be skewed due to higher
than average levels of physical activity and increased muscle mass. The indirect calorimetry was
not taken in ideal conditions, as the individual had not been at rest for the required amount of
time beforehand and had recently eaten; therefore, the results are more indicative of the resting
metabolic rate taken in real conditions. The mask was ill-fitted on this particular individual and this
could have contributed to imprecise measurements. From the chart we can see that his rates of
gas exchange were higher, possibly due to excitement and the unfamiliar conditions of the
laboratory, but gradually they stabilized and decreased as he acclimated to his surroundings.
The results indicate as expected that an individual of smaller mass would require
substantially less caloric intake than a larger individual. Factors such as age, gender, height, and
weight contribute to differing basal metabolic rate. Level of physical activity was not accounted
for, nor was proportionate muscle mass. The subject in the indirect calorimetry had the same
somatotype as the author: ectomorphic mesomorph (e.g. thin, athletic build).

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DIET
Aim:
Record my diet for a day and analyze the results.

Task:
Analysis of individual daily diet
a. Daily caloric requirement for Sara: 1323 kCal (1700kcal with active lifestyle)
b. Proportion of foodstuffs
c. Optimal proportion of caloric values of meals
d. Optimum of vitamins, minerals, salt, water.

Materials and methods:

Meal chart

Results:

Meal Foods Grams kCal Carbohydrat Proteins Fats

e
Breakfast 3 200 g 430 kCal 36 g 24 g 22 g
scrambled
eggs
granola
with fruit
Lunch Cucumber 650 g 450 kCal 26 g 37 g 25 g
Avocado
salad with
tuna
Snack Banana 120 g 120 kCal 31 g 1.5 g 0
Dinner Potatoes 500 g 460 kCal 67 g 8g 19 g
and
peppers
Dessert Protein 275 g 245 kCal 15 g 32 g 6g
shake
TOTALS 1745 g 1705 kCal 175 g 102.5 72 g
Table 2. Table for analysis of individual daily diet

Discussion:
1705 kCal total from 1745 g of food.
175 g carbohydrate, 102.5 g protein, 72 g fats.
1 gram of carbohydrate contains 4 calories. 1 gram of protein also contains 4 calories. 1 gram of
fat contains 9 calories.
175 g carbohydrate x 4 calories = 700 calories
102.5 g proteins x 4 calories = 410 calories
72 g fats x 9 calories = 648 calories

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Proportions:
Carbohydrates: 41%
Proteins: 24%
Fats: 38%

Ideal proportions of foodstuffs in meals: 1: 2 : 1. My proportion does not follow this ratio.
My carbohydrate intake is below ideal, while protein and fat intake are higher than ideal.

Conclusion:

I should double the amount of carbohydrates and reduce the amount of proteins and
especially fats from my diet.

I eat more frequently than 3 times a day, but I should try to increase the amount of food
eaten at midday and make dinner smaller.

I drink about 1,5 liters of pure water per day, and I am not able to say anything about the
amount of vitamins I receive, other than the daily multivitamin I take.

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BODY FAT PERCENTAGE AND SOMATOTYPE DETERMINATION USING
SKINFOLD MEASUREMENT
Aim:
Determine the mass of adipose tissue (or body fat percentage) of a person and somatotype.

Tasks:
Measure skinfolds on different body sites using the caliper. Convert measurements using the
conversion formula.

Materials and methods:

Caliper
Tape measure
Heath-Carter Anthropometric Somatotype chart

Results:
1. Body Mass according the the BMI calculation was 21.09 kg/m2.
2. Measurements of skinfolds were taken from triceps, biceps, supraspinale (above the hip
bone), abdominal, subscapular (beneath the shoulder blades), thighs and medial calf. The
measurements from the caliper during the skinfold test were used to calculate body fat
percentage using 3 different methods of calculation.
a. The first result according to Yuhasz indicated body fat percentage of 20.89%.
b. Using the equation by Durnin and Womersley I had a body fat percentage of
30.26%.
c. The equation from Jackson and Pollock indicated body fat percentage of 25.5%.
3. Estimation of body fat distribution: waist circumference 67 cm (not at increased risk). Hip
circumference 97 cm, thus waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) of 0.69, low risk for females aged 20-
29.
4. The somatotype rating is 0.047 endomorphy – 4.33 mesomorphy – 2.41 ectomorphy. Thus
My somatype is mesomorph (ectomorphic mesomorph).

Discussion:
Skinfold measurement technique measures that mass of adipose tissue of a person, thus
giving a more accurate picture of healthy weight than body mass index, which is based solely on
weight. It is therefore more informative than BMI in regards to cardio metabolic risk assessment.
Body fat distribution was measured according to waist circumference, hip circumference and
calculating the WHR.

Conclusions:
The individual taking the skinfold measurements was inexperienced in this and this may
have contributed to inaccuracies in the measurements, therefore skewing the end results. The
equations gave significantly different results, suggesting inaccuracy in the equations or
measurements.
Additionally, the subject measured is 31 years old and therefore not within the parameters
of age for the tables (age 20-29).