RESUMO
BACKGROUND & AIMS: In most clinical settings basal metabolic rate (BMR) is estimated by predictive equations (PE) but there is no specific algorithm for pregnant women. To this end, this study aimed to measure BMR (BMRm) in single-fetus primigravida 63 adolescent pregnant women recruited from primary health care units from a tropical municipality in Brazil. Additionally, BMRm was compared with estimated BMR from internationally recommended PE for nonpregnant adolescents. METHODS: BMR was measured by indirect calorimetry early in the morning in the fasting pregnant adolescents in a quiet, noise and luminosity controlled room. Anthropometry was measured by conventional research protocols and pre-pregnancy anthropometry was obtained from a questionnaire. RESULTS: Mean BMRm was 5447.3 (SD, 917.3) kJ/day. The PE provided biased (overestimation of 747.2 ± 774.1 kJ/day representing 15.7 ± 17.6%) and inaccurate (approximately 40% fell within ±10% of BMRm). CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to develop accurate estimates of BMR and energy requirements during pregnancy especially in adolescents who are still growing but already nurture a new human being.
