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Human Nutrition and Metabolism
Research Communication

The Atwater Energy Equivalents Overestimate Metabolizable Energy Intake in Older Humans: Results from a 96-Day Strictly Controlled Feeding Study

Laura J. Kruskall^*,3, Wayne W. Campbell and William J. Evans^**

^* Department of Nutrition Sciences, The University of Nevada Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154; Department of Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907; ^** Nutrition, Exercise, and Metabolism Laboratory, Donald W. Reynolds Center on Aging, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, and the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Little Rock, AR 72205

³To whom correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed. E-mail: lakruskall{at}ccmail.nevada.edu.

The Atwater energy equivalents of 16.7, 16.7 and 37.7 kJ/g of protein, carbohydrate and fat, respectively, are the standard values used to calculate the macronutrient intakes required to meet a person’s metabolizable energy requirement. The aim of this study was to compare in older people the measured metabolizable energy intake (MEI_MEAS) required to achieve and maintain stable body weights with the MEI estimated using the Atwater energy equivalents (MEI_AT). During a 96-d (14-wk) strictly controlled dietary period, 11 men and 17 women (55–78 y old) were each provided a MEI_AT to maintain body weight within ± 0.5 kg of baseline weight. The MEI_MEAS was determined retrospectively from the gross energy contents of food, urine and feces samples collected during week 14. Resting energy expenditure was measured using indirect calorimetry. At wk 14, MEI_AT overestimated MEI_MEAS by 26%. These results suggest that the Atwater energy equivalent values may overestimate the actual MEI of older people.

KEY WORDS: • energy requirement • bomb calorimetry • elderly people • Atwater energy equivalents

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