Five apparently healthy, chronically undernourished (UN) male volunteers aged between 18 and 30 years were studied before and after 12 weeks of dietary supplementation. The thermic effect of a meal (TEM) was measured over a period of 6 h using a ventilated-hood system. Results indicated a significant increase in body-weight after supplementation due to increases in body fat and fat-free mass (FFM) in the proportion of 69% and 31% respectively. The basal metabolic rates (BMR) measured post supplementation were significantly higher in absolute terms, with a trend towards higher values when adjusted for the changes in FFM. TEM responses measured after 12 weeks of supplementation were significantly lower when expressed either in absolute terms (presupplementation 227.0 kJ v. post supplementation 193.5 kJ), or as a percentage of the energy density of the meal (9.1% v. 7.7%). This lower TEM was reciprocal to the changes in the BMR (r −0.86). The post-meal total energy output (PMTEO) was, however, not significantly different after 12 weeks of dietary supplementation. The unchanged PMTEO would indicate an unaltered ‘thermogenic capacity’, following supplementation, in these chronically undernourished subjects. These results confirm our earlier conclusion that, in chronic undernutrition, the thermic response to a meal may not contribute to any energy saving.

Chronic undernutrition: Dietary supplementation: Basal metabolic rates: Thermic effect: Substrate oxidation rates