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Metabolic adaptation for low energy throughput in orangutans.

ABSTRACT: Energy is the fundamental currency of life--needed for growth, repair, and reproduction--but little is known about the metabolic physiology and evolved energy use strategies of the great apes, our closest evolutionary relatives. Here we report daily energy use in free-living orangutans (Pongo spp.) and test whether observed differences in energy expenditure among orangutans, humans, and other mammals reflect known differences in life history. Using the doubly labeled water method, we measured daily energy expenditure (kCal/d) in orangutans living in a large indoor/outdoor habitat at the Great Ape Trust. Despite activity levels similar to orangutans in the wild, Great Ape Trust orangutans used less energy, relative to body mass, than nearly any eutherian mammal ever measured, including sedentary humans. Such an extremely low rate of energy use has not been observed previously in primates, but is consistent with the slow growth and low rate of reproduction in orangutans, and may be an evolutionary response to severe food shortages in their native Southeast Asian rainforests. These results hold important implications for the management of orangutan populations in captivity and in the wild, and underscore the flexibility and interdependence of physiological, behavioral, and life history strategies in the evolution of apes and humans.

SUBMITTER: Pontzer H

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2922585 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Metabolic adaptation for low energy throughput in orangutans.

Pontzer Herman H Raichlen David A DA Shumaker Robert W RW Ocobock Cara C Wich Serge A SA

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20100802 32

Energy is the fundamental currency of life--needed for growth, repair, and reproduction--but little is known about the metabolic physiology and evolved energy use strategies of the great apes, our closest evolutionary relatives. Here we report daily energy use in free-living orangutans (Pongo spp.) and test whether observed differences in energy expenditure among orangutans, humans, and other mammals reflect known differences in life history. Using the doubly labeled water method, we measured da ...[more]

PMID: 20679208

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Project description:BackgroundThe practical relevance of metabolic adaptation remains a controversial issue. To the best of our knowledge, no study has properly evaluated the role of metabolic adaptation in modulating weight loss outcomes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the association between metabolic adaptation, at the level of resting metabolic rate (RMR), and weight and fat mass (FM) loss after low-energy diets (LED), after adjusting for dietary adherence and other confounders.Methods71 individuals with obesity (BMI: 34.6 ± 3.4 kg/m2; age: 45.4 ± 8.2 years; 33 males) were randomized to one of three 1000 kcal/day diets for 8 weeks. Body weight, FM and fat-free mass (FFM) (air displacement plethysmography), RMR (indirect calorimetry) and physical activity level (PAL) (armbands) were measured at baseline and at week 9. Metabolic adaptation at week 9 was defined as measured RMR minus predicted RMR at week 9. An equation to predict RMR was derived from baseline data of all participants that were part of this analysis and included age, sex, FM and FFM as predictors. Dietary adherence was calculated from RMR, PAL and body composition changes. Linear regression was used to assess the potential role of metabolic adaptation in predicting weight and FM loss after adjusting for dietary adherence, average PAL, sex, baseline FM and FFM and randomization group.ResultsParticipants lost on average 14 ± 4 kg of body weight (13 ± 3%) and presented with metabolic adaptation (-92 ± 110 kcal/day, P < 0.001). Metabolic adaptation was a significant predictor of both weight (β = -0.009, P < 0.001) and FM loss (β = -0.008, P < 0.001), even after adjusting for confounders (R2 = 0.88, 0.93, respectively, P < 0.001 for both). On average, an increase in metabolic adaptation of 50 kcal/day was associated with a 0.5 kg lower weight and FM loss in response to the LED.ConclusionIn individuals with obesity, metabolic adaptation at the level of RMR is associated with less weight and FM loss in response to LED. Trial registration ID: NCT02944253.

Project description:BackgroundThe existence of metabolic adaptation, following weight loss, remains a controversial issue. To our knowledge, no study has evaluated the role of energy balance (EB) in modulating metabolic adaptation.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to determine if metabolic adaptation, at the level of resting metabolic rate (RMR), is modulated by participants' EB status. A secondary aim was to investigate if metabolic adaptation was associated with weight regain.MethodsSeventy-one individuals with obesity (BMI: 34.6 ± 3.4 kg/m2; age: 45.4 ± 8.2 y; 33 men) enrolled in a 1000-kcal/d diet for 8 wk, followed by 4 wk of weight stabilization and a 9-mo weight loss maintenance program. Body weight/composition and RMR were measured at baseline, week 9 (W9), week 13 (W13), and 1 y (1Y). Metabolic adaptation was defined as a significantly different (lower or higher) measured compared with predicted RMR.ResultsParticipants lost on average 14 kg by W9, followed by weight stabilization at W13, and regained 29% of their initial weight loss at 1Y. Metabolic adaptation was found at W9 (-92 ± 110 kcal/d, P < 0.001) and W13 (-38 ± 124 kcal/d, P = 0.011) but was not correlated with weight regain. A significant reduction in metabolic adaptation was seen between W9 and W13 (-53 ± 101 kcal/d, P < 0.001). In a subset of participants who gained weight between W9 and W13 (n = 33), no metabolic adaptation was seen at W13 (-26.8 ± 121.5 kcal/d, P = 0.214). In a subset of participants with data at all time points (n = 45), metabolic adaptation was present at W9 and W13 (-107 ± 102 kcal/d, P < 0.001 and -49 ± 128 kcal/d, P = 0.013) but not at 1Y (-7 ± 129, P = 0.701).ConclusionAfter weight loss, metabolic adaptation at the level of RMR is dependent on the EB status of the participants, being reduced to half after a period of weight stabilization. Moreover, metabolic adaptation does not predict weight regain at 1Y follow-up. These trials were registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02944253 and NCT03287726.

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Metabolic adaptation for low energy throughput in orangutans.

Publications

Metabolic adaptation for low energy throughput in orangutans.

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