Single-dose oral administration of 100 mg caffeine increased the resting metabolic rate of both lean and postobese human volunteers by 3-4% (p less than 0.02) over 150 min and improved the defective diet-induced thermogenesis observed in the postobese subjects. Measurements of energy expenditure (EE) in a room respirometer indicate that repeated caffeine administration (100 mg) at 2-h intervals over a 12-h day period increased the EE of both subject groups by 8-11% (p less than 0.01) during that period but had no influence on the subsequent 12-h night EE. The net effect was a significant increase (p less than 0.02) in daily EE of 150 kcal in the lean volunteers and 79 kcal in the postobese subjects. Caffeine at commonly consumed doses can have a significant influence on energy balance and may promote thermogenesis in the treatment of obesity.
An over-the-counter preparation containing ephedrine, caffeine, and theophylline was examined for thermogenic anti-obesity properties. Administration of the methylxanthines to MSG-induced obese mice for 6 wk had no effect on energy balance or body composition. In contrast, treatment with ephedrine alone caused losses of 14% in body weight and 42% in body fat, effects brought about mainly by a 10% increase in energy expenditure. These changes were accentuated when ephedrine was administered together with one or both methylxanthines: energy expenditure was increased by a further 10%, and led to a reduction of about 25% in body weight and 75% in body fat, while the total food intake and body protein were unaltered. These results indicate that dietary methylxanthines like caffeine and theophylline, although alone have little effect on energy balance, can nevertheless markedly potentiate the thermogenic anti-obesity effect of ephedrine and normalize the body composition of the obese to the lean levels.
Daily metabolic rates of 16 post-obese women and 16 matched, lean controls were measured at three different levels of activity in a room respirometer. Both groups had similar height, weight, age, and other anthropometric indices. Results show that the post-obese have metabolic rates approximately 15% lower than their controls at any level of activity. They also eat less. Slimmed-down, obese women have a normal body composition. For both groups, aerobic exercise did not have a prolonged stimulatory effect on metabolic rate after the exercise had finished. Mild exercise was more effective than aerobic exercise in increasing daily metabolic rate because it could be comfortably sustained for a longer time. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the etiology and treatment of obesity.
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