Metabolic Aspects of Caloric Restriction (500 Calories): Body Composition Changes

摘要

Body composition changes in 8 healthy adult males (19 to 21 years of age) were studied while subsisting on a daily liquid test containing 340 kcal from carbohydrate and 160 kcal from protein for a 10-day period. Half of the subjects (Group I) were denied minerals with the remaining half (Group II) receiving a daily mineral supplement. Body weight losses were still severe (5.51 and 4.67 kg) in Groups I and II, respectively. This loss was further partitioned into 3.59 kg of fat, 1.4 kg of water, and 0.39 kg of dry protein in Group I, while Group II showed losses of 2.76 kg of fat, 1.32 kg of water and 0.39 kg of dry protein. The observed total body water (D2O dilution) loss was lesser in both groups than observed in previous studies. The largest amount of water was lost by the group which was denied minerals. This indicates the water sparing and fat utilizing effects of limited carbohydrate and protein with mineral supplementation. The skinfold thicknesses of both groups were also decreased during caloric restriction. Lesser changes were noted when minerals were included in the diet. The data indicate that the small quantity of protein in the diet was somewhat beneficial in sparing body protein. (Author)