Resting energy expenditure in patients with cirrhosis of the liver measured by indirect calorimetry, anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis

Energy expenditure was investigated in 15 patients with liver cirrhosis and 20 healthy controls by three methods: indirect calorimetry, anthropometry using the Harris-Benedict equation and bioelectrical impedance analysis. The energy expenditure was expressed in kcal/day, kcal/kg BW/day (BW - body weight), kcal/kg LBM/day (LBM - lean body mass, derived by bioelectrical impedance analysis) or in kcal/m(2)/day. We did not find statistical differences between values of resting energy expenditure obtained in patients with cirrhosis of the liver and healthy controls whichever method we used. We also did not find statistical differences between values obtained by indirect calorimetry, anthropometry and bioelectrical impedance analysis. There was a significant correlation between indirect calorimetry and anthropometry in both groups. We found significant correlations between indirect calorimetry and anthropometry, and between indirect calorimetry and bioelectrical impedance analysis, in the control group only. We can conclude that (1) resting energy expenditure of patients with cirrhosis of the liver is not changed when compared with healthy controls, and (2) bioelectrical impedance is a useful method to calculate body composition from which energy expenditure is derived; however, it gives an appropriate result only in healthy people, and only approximate values in patients with cirrhosis.