Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol 72, Issue 5 1741-1748, Copyright © 1992 by American Physiological Society

ARTICLES

Increased energy intake minimizes weight loss in men at high altitude

G. E. Butterfield, J. Gates, S. Fleming, G. A. Brooks, J. R. Sutton and J. T. Reeves
Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Medical Center, California 94304.

The hypothesis that high-altitude weight loss can be prevented by increasing energy intake to meet energy requirement was tested in seven men, 23.7 +/- 4.3 (SD) yr, taken to 4,300 m for 21 days. Energy intake required to maintain body weight at sea level was found to be 3,118 +/- 300 kcal/day, as confirmed by nitrogen balance. Basal metabolic rate (BMR), determined by indirect calorimetry, increased 27% on day 2 at altitude and then decreased and reached a plateau at 17% above the sea level BMR by day 10. Energy expended during strenuous activities was 37% lower at altitude than at sea level. Fecal excretion of energy, nitrogen, total fiber, and total volatile fatty acids was not significantly affected by altitude. Energy intake at altitude was adjusted after 1 wk, on the basis of the increased BMR, to 3,452 +/- 452 kcal/day. Mean nitrogen balance at altitude was negative (-0.25 +/- 0.71 g/day) before energy intake was adjusted but rose significantly thereafter (0.20 +/- 0.71 and 0.44 +/- 0.66 g/day during weeks 2 and 3). Mean body weight decreased 2.1 +/- 1.0 kg over the 3 wk of the study, but the rate of weight loss was significantly diminished after the increase in energy intake (201 +/- 75 vs. 72 +/- 48 g/day). Individual regression lines drawn through 7-day segments of body weight showed that in four of seven subjects the slopes of body weight were not significantly different from zero after the 2nd wk. Thus weight loss ceased in four of seven men in whom increased BMR at altitude was compensated with increased energy intake.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. M. Beall Colloquium Papers: Two routes to functional adaptation: Tibetan and Andean high-altitude natives PNAS, May 15, 2007; 104(suppl_1): 8655 - 8660. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. E. Barnholt, A. R. Hoffman, P. B. Rock, S. R. Muza, C. S. Fulco, B. Braun, L. Holloway, R. S. Mazzeo, A. Cymerman, and A. L. Friedlander Endocrine responses to acute and chronic high-altitude exposure (4,300 meters): modulating effects of caloric restriction Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, June 1, 2006; 290(6): E1078 - E1088. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Bell, S. Fujita, E. Volpi, J. G. Cadenas, and B. B. Rasmussen Short-term insulin and nutritional energy provision do not stimulate muscle protein synthesis if blood amino acid availability decreases Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, December 1, 2005; 289(6): E999 - E1006. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. L. Brubaker Adventure Travel and Type 1 Diabetes: The complicating effects of high altitude Diabetes Care, October 1, 2005; 28(10): 2563 - 2572. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. van Hall, J. A. L. Calbet, H. Sondergaard, and B. Saltin Similar carbohydrate but enhanced lactate utilization during exercise after 9 wk of acclimatization to 5,620 m Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, December 1, 2002; 283(6): E1203 - E1213. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Iioka, K. Tatsumi, K. Sugito, T. Moriya, and T. Kuriyama Effects of insulin-like growth factor on nitrogen balance during hypoxic exposure Eur. Respir. J., August 1, 2002; 20(2): 293 - 299. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. T. Reeves, S. Zamudio, T. E. Dahms, I. Asmus, B. Braun, G. E. Butterfield, R. G. McCullough, S. R. Muza, P. B. Rock, and L. G. Moore Erythropoiesis in women during 11 days at 4,300 m is not affected by menstrual cycle phase J Appl Physiol, December 1, 2001; 91(6): 2579 - 2586. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Braun, P. B. Rock, S. Zamudio, G. E. Wolfel, R. S. Mazzeo, S. R. Muza, C. S. Fulco, L. G. Moore, and G. E. Butterfield Women at altitude: short-term exposure to hypoxia and/or {alpha}1-adrenergic blockade reduces insulin sensitivity J Appl Physiol, August 1, 2001; 91(2): 623 - 631. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. R. Westerterp Energy and Water Balance at High Altitude Physiology, June 1, 2001; 16(3): 134 - 137. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L. Kennedy, W. C. Stanley, A. R. Panchal, and R. S. Mazzeo Alterations in enzymes involved in fat metabolism after acute and chronic altitude exposure J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2001; 90(1): 17 - 22. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Braun, J. T. Mawson, S. R. Muza, S. B. Dominick, G. A. Brooks, M. A. Horning, P. B. Rock, L. G. Moore, R. S. Mazzeo, S. C. Ezeji-Okoye, et al. Women at altitude: carbohydrate utilization during exercise at 4,300 m J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2000; 88(1): 246 - 256. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. T. Mawson, B. Braun, P. B. Rock, L. G. Moore, R. Mazzeo, and G. E. Butterfield Women at altitude: energy requirement at 4,300 m J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2000; 88(1): 272 - 281. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. S. Westerterp-Plantenga, K. R. Westerterp, M. Rubbens, C. R. T. Verwegen, J.-P. Richelet, and B. Gardette Appetite at "high altitude" [Operation Everest III (Comex-'97)]: a simulated ascent of Mount Everest J Appl Physiol, July 1, 1999; 87(1): 391 - 399. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. D. Reynolds, J. A. Lickteig, P. A. Deuster, M. P. Howard, J. M. Conway, A. Pietersma, J. deStoppelaar, and P. Deurenberg Energy Metabolism Increases and Regional Body Fat Decreases While Regional Muscle Mass Is Spared in Humans Climbing Mt. Everest J. Nutr., July 1, 1999; 129(7): 1307 - 1314. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. Braun, G. E. Butterfield, S. B. Dominick, S. Zamudio, R. G. McCullough, P. B. Rock, and L. G. Moore Women at altitude: changes in carbohydrate metabolism at 4,300-m elevation and across the menstrual cycle J Appl Physiol, November 1, 1998; 85(5): 1966 - 1973. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. A. Brooks, E. E. Wolfel, G. E. Butterfield, A. Cymerman, A. C. Roberts, R. S. Mazzeo, and J. T. Reeves Poor relationship between arterial [lactate] and leg net release during exercise at 4,300 m altitude Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, October 1, 1998; 275(4): R1192 - R1201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. E. Wolfel, M. A. Selland, A. Cymerman, G. A. Brooks, G. E. Butterfield, R. S. Mazzeo, R. F. Grover, and J. T. Reeves O2 extraction maintains O2 uptake during submaximal exercise with beta -adrenergic blockade at 4,300 m J Appl Physiol, September 1, 1998; 85(3): 1092 - 1102. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. S. Mazzeo, A. Child, G. E. Butterfield, J. T. Mawson, S. Zamudio, and L. G. Moore Catecholamine response during 12 days of high-altitude exposure (4,300 m) in women J Appl Physiol, April 1, 1998; 84(4): 1151 - 1157. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. D. Reynolds, J. A. Lickteig, M. P Howard, and P. A Deuster Intakes of High Fat and High Carbohydrate Foods by Humans Increased with Exposure to Increasing Altitude During an Expedition to Mt. Everest J. Nutr., January 1, 1998; 128(1): 50 - 55. [Abstract] [Full Text]