Thermogenic responses to noradrenaline are unaltered following energy supplementation in chronically energy‐deficient human subjects

Abstract

A group of chronically undernourished labourers underwent a period of controlled supplementary feeding (3.35 MJ per day) over a period of 12 weeks. Thermogenic responses to Noradrenaline (NA) (0.15 microgram kg-1 fat-free mass per min) were assessed (1) before supplementation (2) during the 12th week of supplementation and (3) 12-16 weeks following the cessation of supplementation. There were significant changes in anthropometric indices and basal metabolic rates (BMR) during the three stages of the study; however, these were not accompanied by significant changes in the thermogenic responses to NA.

Consequences of inadequate food energy and negative energy balance in humans

“…The increase in FFM (measured as the difference between body weight and fat measured by the skinfold method) observed in the early re-feeding was not due to an increase in muscle mass, as the 24 hour creatinine excretion did not change 33 , and it is possible that this could have been due to an increase in visceral or splanchnic mass, as has been observed before 122,123 , or due to changes in the hydration of the FFM. In these same subjects, noradrenaline stimulated and diet induced thermogenesis did not change with energy supplementation 78,124 . If food supplementation is episodic, the question is what happens when the chronically energy deficient subjects return to their pre-supplemented state, as would happen with episodic food availability?…”

Chronic undernutrition and metabolic adaptation

“…The thermogenic response to NA was unaltered in the CED subjects after 12 weeks of supplementation (Vaz et al 1990); DIT responses to an identical meal stimulus also showed no differences at the end of the supplementation period . Studies in The Gambia, however, seem to suggest that some blunting of DIT responses occurs in the Gambians during the lean season (Minghelli et al 1990).…”

A Review of Inotropes and Inopressors for Effective Utilization in Patients With Acute Decompensated Heart Failure

“…However, a different study suggested interpatient variability with the infusion rate and serum norepinephrine concentrations. 64…”

“…However, a different study suggested interpatient variability with the infusion rate and serum norepinephrine concentrations. 64 Norepinephrine clearance has shown to be highly variable and lower in critically ill patients, likely because of changes in organ function and PVR. 54 Norepinephrine is hepatically metabolized to inactive metabolites and up to 16% is excreted unchanged in the urine.…”