DSE-1B: NUTRIENTS AND THEIR PHYSIOLOGICAL

ROLE
UNIT 6:
ENERGY IN HUMAN NUTRITION

Anas Ejaz Yasmeen Shaikh

Prime Minister Research Fellow
Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
 These slides were prepared by me as a part of my PMRF External Teaching duties

at the Hijli College of Vidyasagar University in West Bengal, India

- Anas Ejaz Yasmeen Shaikh

CONTENTS
 Energy and its unit
 Energy assessment and balance
 Factors of energy requirement
 BMR and its regulation
 SDA of food
INTRODUCTION
Human beings require enough energy to lead an active and healthy life.
Energy fulfils the following functions:
1. Maintenance of basal body functions (basal metabolism)
2. Physical activity
3. Growth and development in infants and children and maintenance of pregnancy and
lactation in women.
The energy value of foods:
The energy or calorific value of foods depends on the quantity of carbohydrates, fats and
proteins present in them. This can be determined by oxidizing a known weight of food in an
instrument called ‘Bomb calorimeter’ and measuring the heat produced.
UNITS OF ENERGY
 The energy value of foods can be expressed in terms of Kilo calories (Kcal) or Mega
Joules (MJ).
 The Unit ‘Kilo Calorie’ is in use now.
 The kilocalorie is generally expressed as "Calorie"- written with as capital ''C''.
 Definitions:
Joule, a physical unit of energy, is defined as the energy required to move 1 kg of mass
by 1 metre by a force of 1 Newton acting on it (One Newton is the force needed to
accelerate one kg mass by 1 metre per sec2).
Kilocalorie (kcal) is defined as the heat required to raise the temperature of one kg of
water by 1 °C from 14.5°C to 15.5° C. The unit kcal is still popularly used.
UNITS OF ENERGY
The relationship between the two units of energy is as follows:

1 kcal = 4.184 KJ (Kilo Joule)

1 KJ = 0 .239 kcal

1000 kcal = 4184 KJ = 4.18 MJ (Mega Joule)

1 MJ = 239 kcal
FACTORS OF ENERGY REQUIREMENT
Energy requirements vary from one person to another depending upon inter-related
variables acting in a complex way, such as age, gender, working condition, body size and
composition, physical activity, physiological state, climate and other ecological factors,
etc.
All these factors lead to differences in food intake.
Energy requirements have been laid down by various expert groups of FAO and. WHO.
It has become customary for countries to lay down their own standards.
Thus there are British standards, American standards, Canadian standards, etc.
The standards in India are those recommended by the Indian Council of Medical Research.
These standards are revised from time to time in the light of newer knowledge.
VULNERABLE GROUPS
1. Pregnant and lactating mothers :
The energy requirements of women are increased by pregnancy ( +350 kcal daily
throughout pregnancy) and lactation ( +600 kcal daily during the first 6 months, and
+520 kcals daily during the next 6 months) over and above their normal
requirements.
This is to provide for the extra energy needs associated with the deposition of
tissues or the secretion of milk at rates consistent with good health.
VULNERABLE GROUPS
2. Children :
Because of their rapid growth rate , young children require proportionately more
energy for each kilogram of body weight than adults.
A problem that arises is in recommending intakes in communities where a large
number of children a re underweight because of malnutrition.
In order to provide for "catch-up growth" during childhood, intakes should be based
on age rather than weight where practical.
The ICMR standards are based on age, and not on body weight (except during the
first year of life).
VULNERABLE GROUPS
2. Children :
Children above the age of 13 years need as much energy as adults.
This is because they show a good deal of physical activity, almost equal to hard
work by adults.
This is also the age when puberty sets in and there is a spurt in growth and an
increase in metabolic rate.
This fact should be borne in mind when planning dietaries for children.
VULNERABLE GROUPS
3. Adults :
The energy requirements decrease with age because of a fall in BMR and a
decrease in physical activity in most persons.
In general, there is a 2 per cent decline of resting metabolism for each decade for
adults.
The FAO/WHO committee suggested that after the age of 40 years, requirements
should be reduced by 5 per cent per each decade until the age of 60, and by 10
per cent for each decade thereafter.
RECOMMENDED ENERGY REQUIREMENTS
FOR INDIANS
Energy Assessment: Sample Calculation
Energy requirement per day for a sedentary male
worker
Basal Metabolism 1440 for 24 hours
(including 8 hours of
sleep and rest)
8 hours light routine 320
8 hours occupational activity 400
Specific dynamic action 150
Total 2310 kcal
 REFERENCE INDIAN ADULT MAN AND
WOMAN
Reference Indian Adult Man is: Reference Indian Adult Woman
 between 19 and 39 years of age  between 19 and 39 years of age
 weighs 65 kg with a  not pregnant,
 height of 1.77 m and  not-lactating, and
 BMI of 20.75 and is  weighs 55 kg with a
 free from disease and physically fit for active work.  height of 1.62 m and a
 On each working day, he is engaged in 8 hours of  BMI of 20.95, is
occupation which usually involves moderate activity.
 free from disease and physically fit for active work.
 While not at work, he spends 8 hours in bed, 4–6
hours in sitting and moving about, 2 hours in walking,  On each working day, she is engaged in 8 hours of
and in active recreation or household duties. occupation which usually involves moderate activity.
 While not at work, she spends 8 hours in bed, 4–6
hours in sitting and moving about, 2 hours in walking,
and in active recreation or household duties.
ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIANS
ENERGY BALANCE
 The concept of energy balance is based on the fundamental thermodynamic principle
that energy cannot be destroyed, and can only be gained, lost, or stored by an organism.
Energy balance is defined as the state achieved when the energy intake equals energy
expenditure.
This concept may be used to demonstrate how bodyweight will change over time in
response to changes in energy intake and expenditure.
When the body is in energy balance, bodyweight is stable.
Humans take in energy through the intake of food and drink, and expend energy through
the resting metabolic rate (RMR)—the thermic effect (TEF) of food and physical activity.
ENERGY BALANCE
The RMR is the energy expenditure required for maintaining normal body functions and
homeostasis.
The RMR is proportional to body mass, in particular fat-free mass.
TEF refers to the energy required to absorb, digest, and metabolise the food consumed
and typically accounts for 8–10 % of daily energy expenditure.
The energy expended due to physical activity (EEact) accounts for energy that is
expended in addition to the RMR and TEF, including voluntary exercise, shivering, postural
control, and voluntary movement.
It is calculated by multiplying the energy expenditure of an activity by the time spent
performing it, and is the most variable component of energy expenditure
ENERGY BALANCE
The more sedentary the individual is, the lower the effect of physical activity.
This may be as low as 100 calories per day, whereas elite athletes may expend 3,000
calories per day of physical activity.
The decline in energy expenditure that occurs with advancing age is mainly the results of
declining lean body mass, which reduces TEF and EEact.
Disturbances in energy balance cause changes in body mass, although the timeframe over
which this occurs varies between individuals and may explain the large interindividual
response to weight-loss interventions.
A positive energy balance, in which energy intake exceeds expenditure causes weight
gain, with 60–80 % of the resulting weight gain being attributable to body fat.
In negative energy balance, when energy expenditure exceeds intake, the resulting loss in
body mass is also accounted for by 60–80 % body fat.
BMR AND ITS REGULATIONS
 Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the amount of energy your body burns while at rest to
maintain basic life-sustaining functions, such as breathing, blood circulation, and organ
function.
 BMR accounts for about 60-70% of your total energy expenditure, and it varies
depending on your age, gender, body size, and composition.
The energy metabolism of a subject at complete physical and mental rest and having
normal body temperature and in the post –absorptive state (i.e., 12 hours after the intake
of last meal) is known as Basal Metabolism.
The minimum energy the body requires supporting itself when resting and awaking. It
amounts to roughly 1 kcalorie per minute, or about 1400 kcalories per day.
BMR AND ITS REGULATIONS
 BMR is influenced by several factors that can impact your overall energy balance and
weight management.
1. Age: As you age, your BMR decreases due to a natural decline in muscle mass and a
decrease in physical activity. The B.M.R. is higher in infants and young children than in
adults. The rate of decline in BMR varies between individuals, but it can decrease by
as much as 2-3% per decade after the age of 30.
2. Gender: Men typically have a higher BMR than women due to their higher muscle mass
and lower body fat percentage. On average, men have a BMR that is about 5-10%
higher than women of the same weight and height. Females have slightly lower B.M.R.
than males.
BMR AND ITS REGULATIONS
3. Body Composition: Your body composition, or the ratio of muscle to fat in your body,
plays a significant role in determining your BMR. Muscle is more metabolically active
than fat, which means that people with more muscle mass have a higher BMR. That’s
why strength training and other forms of resistance exercise are essential for
maintaining a healthy weight and boosting your metabolism. The B.M.R. is directly
related to the lean body mass. Persons with well developed muscles will have a higher
BMR than obese person whose higher body weight is due to adipose tissue.
4. Body Size: The B.M.R. is closely related to the body surface area. Larger bodies have
a higher BMR than smaller bodies due to the increased energy required to maintain
basic body functions, such as breathing, blood circulation, and organ function. Basal
metabolism is less directly related either to the height or weight of the individual.
BMR AND ITS REGULATIONS
5. Diet: Your diet can also influence your BMR. A diet that is low in calories or lacks
sufficient nutrients can slow down your metabolism and decrease your BMR. On the other
hand, consuming enough protein, vitamins, and minerals can support a healthy BMR and
promote weight loss.
6. Climate: In persons living in tropical climates, the B.M.R.is about 10 percent less than
those living in temperate zones.
7. S.D.A. of Food: Food has a stimulating effect on B.M.R. If a person in post-absorptive
state is given food, the B.M.R. has been found to increase by about 8 per cent. This is
known as the Specific Dynamic Action of food.
8. Undernutrition and Starvation: prolonged undernutrition or starvation causes a
reduction of about 10-20 per cent less than in B.M.R.
BMR AND ITS REGULATIONS
9. Sleep: The B.M.R. in sleep is about 5 percent less than in the basal metabolic state.
10. Fever: Fever increases the B.M.R. For every 10F rise in body temperature B.M.R.
increases by about 7 percent. A person with high fever (105 0 F) would have an
increase of 50 per cent in the B.M.R.
11. Physical Activity: If an individual takes physical exercise about half-an –hour before
the determination of B.M.R., appreciable increase in the B.M.R. is observed.
12. Fear and Nervous tension: Fear and nervous tension during the test increase the B.M.R.
13. Hormones: Hormones can also affect your BMR. For example, an overactive thyroid
gland can increase BMR, while an underactive thyroid gland can decrease BMR.
Hormonal imbalances, such as those that occur during menopause, can also impact BMR.
BMR AND ITS REGULATIONS
(a) Thyroid: Hypothyroidism decreases B.M.R. up to 30 per cent and hyperthyroidism may
cause an increase in B.M.R. up to 100 percent depending on the severity of the condition.
(b) Adrenaline: Injection of 1mg of adrenaline increases the B.M.R. by about 20 per cent
for a few hours.
(c) Anterior Pituitary: The anterior pituitary influences B.M.R. through its thyrotropic
hormone, the B.M.R. being low in hypoactivity and high in hyper-activity of the glands.
14. Other Diseased Conditions: An increase in B.M.R. has been observed in splenomegly
and lymphatic leukemia.
BMR V/S RMR
BMR RMR
What Is BMR? What Is RMR?
Your basal metabolic rate measures the minimum amount of Your resting metabolic rate is the amount of energy
calories that your body needs to perform necessary functions. that your body needs to function while at rest. RMR
These functions include: accounts for additional low-effort daily activities on
- Pumping blood throughout your body top of basic body functions. These activities include:
- Digesting food - Eating
- Breathing - Walking for short periods
- Keeping a stable body temperature - Using the bathroom
- Growing hair and skin - Consuming caffeine
- Maintaining levels of different chemicals - Sweating or shivering
BMR V/S RMR
BMR RMR
How Do You Measure BMR? How Do You Measure RMR?
1. Estimate with math: 1. Estimate with math:
Harris-Benedict equation You can estimate RMR using the same equations you’d
2. Take a test at a lab: use to calculate your BMR.
Benedict-Roth Spirometer 2. Take a test at a lab:
You’ll breathe into a special mask called a calorimeter that You can also take a lab test with the same type of
covers your mouth and/or nose. The mask uses your breath calorimeter.
rate to measure the calories you burn. The lab test won’t require you to sleep there overnight
You’ll need to sleep at the lab overnight to get an accurate or restrict eating and exercise beforehand. You’ll
BMR measurement. The number of hours you sleep and the likely take the test while staying still in a well-lit room.
temperature of the room can affect your BMR.
You may need to skip exercise and eating for at least 12
hours beforehand. These activities both burn extra calories
over time.
BMR V/S RMR
Similarities
Your BMR and RMR both capture how many calories your body burns when you’re not exercising.
They’re generally around the same number for each person.

1. Fitness. BMR and RMR can both give you an idea of your overall metabolism. Higher metabolic
activity means your body burns more calories each day. Your BMR and RMR both tend to be higher if
you’re physically fit.

2. Total daily energy expenditure. Your total daily energy expenditure, or TDEE, is the total amount of
calories you burn each day. Your TDEE consists of calories burned through rest, exercise, and
digestion.

Either BMR or RMR can represent the calories you burn at rest in your TDEE.
BMR V/S RMR
Differences
Your BMR is a more accurate way to measure your metabolism at complete rest. It’s usually slightly lower
than your RMR.

Your RMR is a better number to reference for your daily calorie needs. It more accurately represents the
calories you burn in a typical day.
SDA OF FOOD
 History:
 It was observed that carbohydrates, fats and proteins fed to a fasting dog, stimulated
the energy metabolism over the basal level to varying extents.
 For example, he found that in a fasting dog requiring 400 Kcal, feeding of 100 g of
carbohydrates produces 425 Kcal, 44.4 g of fat produces 416 Kcal and 100 g of
protein produces 520 Kcal of heat.
The extra heat produced is obtained by the oxidation of the tissue constituents and the
animal will be in negative energy balance.
This stimulating effect of carbohydrates, fats and proteins on energy metabolism is
called Specific Dynamic Action (S.D.A.).
SDA OF FOOD
 Definition:
 During digestion and assimilation of food, the energy produced is converted into heat.
 Ingested foods increase the metabolic rate because of their specific dynamic action (SDA).
 The SDA of a food is the obligatory energy expenditure that occurs during its assimilation
into the body.
 Thus, SDA is the phenomenon of the extra heat production by the body over and above the
calculated caloric value when a given food is metabolized by the body.
 The metabolic rate and thus, heat production increases by about 15% after a meal, starts
within one hour of taking food, becomes maximum in about third hour.
This is called specific dynamic action (SDA) of food or thermic effect of food or
calorigenic action of food lasts for several hours .
SDA OF FOOD
 SDA of different food constituents:
 SDA of foods is due to the energy required for digestion, absorption, transport, metabolism
and storage of foods in the body
1. SDA of protein : mainly to meet the requirements for deamination, synthesis of urea,
biosynthesis of proteins etc.
2. 2. SDA of carbohydrate : for the conversion of glucose to glycogen
3. 3. SDA of fat : for its storage, mobilization and oxidation
SDA OF FOOD
 SDA of different food constituents:
 SDA is different for different foodstuffs, maximum for protein.
 Therefore, ingestion of protein rich food has more SDA value (30%) than carbohydrate
(6%), fat (12%) and mixed diet (10%).
 It takes 30 kcal to assimilate the amount of protein sufficient to raise the metabolic rate
100 kcal; 6 kcal, 12 kcal and 10 kcal to assimilate a similar amount of carbohydrate, fat and
mixed food, respectively.
 Example: when 25 gm. protein is utilized in the body, 130 kcal of heat is liberated, instead
heat production from the caloric value of 25 gm. of protein is 100 kcal (25 x 4 kcal, as
protein provide energy 4 kcal per gm.). This extra 30 kcal is the SDA of protein.
SDA OF FOOD
 So people living in hot climate should avoid protein food and they, who live in cold climate
are recommended protein food (which helps to maintain the body temperature, liberating
extra heat).
 BMR of a subject should be determined avoiding the period during which SDA develops.
 While prescribing adequate diet, proper allowance should be given for the SDA of food,
specially of proteins, otherwise tissue substances will burn and the subject will lose weight.
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