Energy expenditure and respiratory diseases: is there a link?

Abstract

Recent studies have suggested that respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), influence energy expenditure (EE). This influence on energy balance may be responsible for the weight changes that are often seen in individuals suffering from OSAS and COPD. However, even though EE has been assessed in several studies, be it in OSAS or COPD, there are still controversies regarding these potential relationships. Thus, the objective of this review is to describe some of the potential mechanisms that may affect EE in respiratory diseases and, thereby discuss whether there seems to be an explanation for the aforementioned relationship. The primary focus is on the oxygen transport system, which may be an important determinant for the relationship between both of these respiratory diseases and EE.

Keywords::

• adaptive thermogenesis
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• energy expenditure
• obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
• organochlorine
• oxygen transport system

Financial & competing interests disclosure

A Tremblay is partly funded by the Canada Research Chair in Physical Activity, Nutrition and Energy Balance. NT Gregersen is partly funded by the Unilever Food and Health Research Institute, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.