ENERGY AND METABOLISM

EN MOHD FAHMI B MOHD YUSOF

School of Health Sciences
Universiti Sains Malaysia
CONTENTS

• Conservation of energy in the body

• Energy changes in the body
• Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
• Efficiency of work
• Heat loss from the body
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY IN THE BODY
• Energy is defined as capacity of a system to
enable it to do work
• The ‘work’ refers to activities by the body
– Movement (walking, running, lifting)
– Thinking
• Under resting (basal) condition, the total energy in
the body is consumed into:
– Muscles and heart (25%)
– The brain (19%)
– Kidneys (10%)
– Liver and spleen (27%)
– Others e.g. respiration, digestive (19%)
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY IN THE BODY
• Fro the law of conservation of energy
– Energy cannot be created or destroyed
– Energy can change from one form to another
• All the work by the body is carried out by the
change of energy from one form to another
• Body’s source of energy (fuel) is through the food
we consume
– Chemical energy
• Food is in indirect form of energy. Thus it is
chemically changed by the body into molecules
that combine with oxygen molecules (ATP)
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY IN THE BODY
• Body become the energy converter, uses energy
from food to operate various organ to:
– Supply heat that maintain body temperature
– Do external works (movement)
– Build stored energy supply
• Small percentage (5%) of energy from the food is
excreted through urine and feces
• The energy that consumed by appears as body
heat. This heat is used to maintain the body
temperature along with heat from surrounding.
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY IN THE BODY

• Conservation of energy in the body is according to

the first law of thermodynamic where:
∆U = ∆Q − ∆W
Where ∆U = change of energy in the body
∆Q = heat loss/gain from the body
∆W = the work done by the body
With assumption:
6.No food/drink taken during the interval
7.No urine/feces excreted during the interval
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY IN THE BODY

• ∆U is positive if energy increased from

initial energy (gain of energy)
and negative if energy decrease from the
initial energy (loss/consumed)
• ∆Q is positive if heat is added into the
body and negative if heat is released to
surrounding. ∆Q is equal to zero if the
temperature remain constant
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY IN THE BODY
• As this process occurs in time interval, the
equation becomes:
∆U/∆t = ∆Q/∆t − ∆W/∆t
where ∆U/∆t is the rate of change of stored
energy
∆Q/∆t is the rate of heat loss/gain
∆W/∆t is the rate of doing work
CONSERVATION OF ENERGY IN THE BODY

• The second equation limits the system in a

time interval ∆t.
• This limits the fraction of stored energy ∆U
that converted into useful work ∆W
• This is later known as the second law of
thermodynamics
ENERGY CHANGE IN THE BODY
• The SI unit for energy is Newton-meter (Nm) or
Joule where 1Nm = 1Joule
• the other unit for energy is calorie where
1Joule = 4184 calorie
• From the second equation, the body converts the
stored energy into mechanical work. The work is
defined as the total energy transferred to perform
the work
• Power, P is the rate of work done with SI unit in
Joule/second (J/s) or watt, W
ENERGY CHANGE IN THE BODY
• Physiologists and nutritionist use
– kilocalories (kcal) for measuring the energy
contained in food (fuel)
– Kcal/min for measuring rate of heat production
∆Q/∆t
• These units are similar to the unit calorie
used in determining general form of energy
1kcal = 1 Calorie
ENERGY CHANGE IN THE BODY
• Relationship between Joule, kcal, Calorie
and power can be summarized as:
1 kcal = 1 Calorie
1 kcal = 4184 J
1 kcal/min = 4184J/60s = 69.7W
100 W = 1.43 kcal/min
1kcal/hr = 4184J/(60X60s) = 1.162W
ENERGY CHANGE IN THE BODY
• The early idea of transformation from food (fuel)
into energy was suggested by Antoine Lavoisier
(1784)
• He suggested that the food is oxidized after
consumption. His suggestion was supported by
the prove that oxygen consumption increase
during digestion process
• This was later proved to be wrong. The correct
explanation is oxidation of food occurs within cell
(combustion) as the cell is the true consumer of
the food
ENERGY CHANGE IN THE BODY
• During oxidation (combustion) in cell, the
energy of metabolism is released in form of
heat
• The rate of energy production is called
metabolic rate
• Considering glucose C6H12O6 as main source
of fuel, the oxidation of glucose is given by
equation
C6H12O6 + 6O2 6H2O + 6CO2+ 2.87 × 107J
ENERGY CHANGE IN THE BODY
• From the equation,
– 1 mole of glucose combine with 6 moles of
oxygen producing 6 moles of water, 6 moles
of CO2 releasing 2.87 × 107J energy (heat)
• Therefore we can calculate proportionality of
each molecules that producing energy
3. Energy release by each kg of glucose:
1 mole glucose = 0.18kg of glucose
2.87 × 107J / 0.18kg = 16MJ/kg
ENERGY CHANGE IN THE BODY
• Energy release for each m3 of oxygen:
1 mole gas at STP = 22.4x10-3m3
2.87 × 107J / 6 x (22.4x10-3m3) = 21MJ/m3
4. Volume of oxygen per kg of fuel (glucose)
6 x (22.4x10-3m3) / 0.18kg glucose = 0.75m3/kg
• Volume of CO2 produced per kg of fuel
6 x (22.4x10-3m3) / 0.18kg glucose = 0.75m3/kg
• Moles of CO2 produced per each mole of O2
1 mole CO2 = 1 mole O2
ENERGY CHANGE IN THE BODY
BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR)
• Defined as consumption of energy when completely
at rest
• Amount of energy needed to perform minimal body
function
– Breathing
– Pumping blood through arteries
• Normal basal metabolic rate is 92 kcal/hr or 100W
• Varies by sex, age, height, weight
• Depends primarily upon thyroid function
– Normal vs hyperthyroid
BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR)
• The basal metabolic rate was first carried out
using 24 hours thyroid uptake test
• Thyroid uses iodine in the hormone to regulate
metabolic function
• Amount of iodine taken from food become
indicator of metabolic rate
• Used widely during World War II as Iodine-131
with 8-days half life easily available
BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR)
• A small dose (37kBq) of Iodine-131 was
given to patient orally
– After 24 hours, the radioactivity in thyroid is
measured using scintillation detector
– Uptake is measured by comparing
radioactivity at thyroid after 24hours to sample
iodine-131 (37kBq)
• Not widely practiced today as it gives
internal exposure to the patient
BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR)
• Since the energy
produced by body is
released in form of
heat, the heat is
primarily dissipated
through skin
• Therefore the BMR
is related to the
surface area or mass
of the body
BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR)
• The metabolic rate depends largely on body
temperature
– Chemical process is very much temperature
dependence
– Small change in temp cause large change in chemical
reaction
– E.g. change of 1°C cause change about 10% of
metabolic rate (fever)
• This is advantageous to certain mammal
(hibernating)
– Reduce oxygen consumption
BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR)
• The concept of food consuming and metabolic
rate
2. To keep constant weight:
– Eat just enough food for BMR plus need for
physical activities
3. Eat too little:
– Cause weight loss, less source for BMR
– The body will consume energy stored to
compensate BMR and physical activities
– Prolonged will cause starvation
BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR)
1. Eat too much:
– Extra energy for body.
– Energy exceeding BMR and physical
activities need
– Stored as fat – increase body weight
BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR)

• Other than metabolic rate, the power

needed for activities can also be
determined by oxygen consumption
• We can estimate energy used in various
physical activities by measuring oxygen
consumption
BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR)
BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR)
Good Student Vs Playing Truant Student
for GTX 311 class
2.Good student:
walking to class = 151.1 J/m2s
climbing stairs = 390 J/m2s
sitting a lecture (awake) = 119.1 J/m2s
walking back to hostel = 151.1 J/m2s
Total energy consumed = 811.3 J/m2s
BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR)
1. Playing Truant student
sleeping = 47.7 J/m2s
or
sitting at rest = 66.8 J/m2s only!!
conclusion:
attending GTX 311 class has much more
benefit than to skip it !!!
BASAL METABOLIC RATE (BMR)
EFFICIENCY OF WORK
• The body is a great machine that converts energy
stored into work
• The work can be either
– The internal work by the muscle cells
– The external work (mechanical work)
• The internal work by the muscles can be measured
according to the first law of thermodynamic
∆U= ∆Q− ∆W
therefore ∆W= ∆U= ∆Q
EFFICIENCY OF WORK
• The external work or the mechanical work such
as lifting, pushing, cycling can be measured by
Work, W = Fx
where F is the force exerting to the object and x
is the distance travelled by the object
• The work performed by the body either internal
or external can be compared to the energy
consumed by the body to perform the task
• This is called the efficiency of the work where
efficiency, ε = work done, W / energy consumed
EFFICIENCY OF WORK
• Efficiency is usually lowest at low power
(rate of work) but can increase for trained
individuals e.g. cycling and rowing
• Studies shown that cycling is the most
efficient activities
– On level ground and constant speed, no
change in potential or kinetic energy
– Power supplied is primarily to overcome wind
resistance and friction
– Less power to cycle at constant speed
EFFICIENCY OF WORK
• The body provide energy in two phase
– Aerobic phase
– Anaerobic phase
• The aerobic phase
– provide high power for work at short time
– Involve oxygen consumption to break down
the glucose (fuel)
– Has high efficiency of work
EFFICIENCY OF WORK
• The anaerobic phase
– Provide lower power for long period time of work
– Do not involve oxygen consumption in breaking
down glucose
– Has low efficiency of work as the power
provided is relatively low
– Produce byproducts of lactic acid as the muscle
is oxygen-deficit causing cramp to the muscle
– This is compensated by fast breathing to retain
oxygen to the body
HEAT LOSS FROM THE BODY
• Birds and mammals (including human) are
homoeothermic (warm blooded)
• Homoeothermics have mechanisms to keep
body temperature constant despite fluctuation in
environmental temperature
• Constant body temp permits metabolic process
to proceed at constant rate and remain active at
cold climate
• At death, the body cools at surrounding
temperature – estimation of time of death
HEAT LOSS FROM THE BODY
• Human’s body heat is regulated by
hypothalamus as thermostat
– At high temperature, hypothalamus initiates
vasodilatation of blood vessels. The blood
vessel near the skin expand and carry more blood
and heat to the skin. This promotes sweating and
cooling the skin and body
– At low temperature, hypothalamus initiates
vasoconstriction limiting blood and heat flow.
The hypothalamus also initiates shivering;
involuntary muscle activity to increase body
temperature
HEAT LOSS FROM THE BODY
• The heat produced by body for 2400kcal/day
diet is 1.7kcal/min or 120J/s (120W)
• The body will try to maintain the temperature
and at the same time it must lose additional heat
• The body losing heat through;
1. Radiation
2. Convection
3. Evaporation
4. Respiration
 HEAT LOSS FROM THE BODY
1. Heat loss by radiation
• Heat loss at the function of total area of the skin
• According to the principle of thermal equilibrium - transfer
of heat into cooler surrounding
• Forming about 50% of body heat loss
• Given by the equation of
Hr = Kr Ar Є (Ts – Tw)
where Kr is physical constant 2.1x104J/m2hr C or 5kcal/m2hr C
Ar is area of body surface radiating heat
Є is infrared region independent to skin colour = 1
Ts and Tw is skin and wall temperature respectively
HEAT LOSS FROM THE BODY
example:
if a nude body has effective area of 1.2m2 and
skin temperature of 34°C losing heat to the wall
of 25°C. the heat loss due to radiation is:
Hr = Kr Ar Є (Ts – Tw)
= (5kcal/m2hr C)(1.2m2) (1)
(34-25)°C
= 54 kcal/hr
about 54% of body’s heat loss
 HEAT LOSS FROM THE BODY
1. Heat loss by convection
• Heat loss upon the movement of air surrounding to
the skin effective surface area
• Heat loss given by the equation of:
Hc = Kc Ac (Ts – Ta)
Where Ac is skin effective surface area
Ts is skin temperature
Ta is air temperature
Kc is depend on movement of air
= 10.45 – v + √ v kcal/m2/hr C
where v is the speed of wind
HEAT LOSS FROM THE BODY
• This lead to the windchill concept where the
temperature the person feel on windy day is colder
than the measured temperature.
HEAT LOSS FROM THE BODY
1. Heat loss by evaporation
• Appear even under normal condition even in
absence of hard work or exercise
• Form about 7% of total heat loss
• Heat loss by sweating as the sweat contains heat
carried by vasodilatation of blood vessels
• Under extreme condition – sweat up to 1liter/hr
• The sweat carries up to 580kcal heat per liter to be
evaporated
• The evaporation also depend on relative humidity
and air movement
HEAT LOSS FROM THE BODY
1. Heat loss by respiration
• The air we breathe is moistured by the moist
airways in the respiratory tract
• The moist air contains the heat from inside the
body. The exhaled air is thus carry along the
heat trapped in the moisted air
• Forming about 14% of total heat loss
APPLICATION OF METABOLISM IN
IMAGING
• Metabolism of cell involves
– Consumption of metabolic fuel (oxygen,
glocose)
– Change in energy level
– Transmission of energy (heat)
• These elements are measurable. Thus it
can be projected as image
APPLICATION OF METABOLISM IN
IMAGING
Several method of imaging involving
metabolism of cell
2.Infrared (Thermo-photography)
3.Nuclear Medicine Imaging
4.Functional Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (fMRI)
APPLICATION OF METABOLISM IN
IMAGING
1.Infrared
• Means ‘below’ red
• Imaging of the distribution of heat
• The human body produce heat to
surrounding, as result of metabolism
• The image produced are in the scale of
color tone below red
• Used extensively by military and
satellite for weather forecasting
APPLICATION OF METABOLISM IN
IMAGING
APPLICATION OF METABOLISM IN
IMAGING
APPLICATION OF METABOLISM IN
IMAGING
1. Nuclear Medicine Imaging
• In vivo detection of radiation from the body
• Patients are injected intravenously with
radiopharmaceuticals; raionuclide tagged
with chemical substance
• Chemical substances are usually metabolic
agent of the tissue of interest
• Radiopharmaceuticals are taken by the cell
of tissue of interest
APPLICATION OF METABOLISM IN
IMAGING
• As the chemical substances being consumed
by the cell, the radionuclide emits photon
from inside the cell
• he patient being imaged under gamma
camera – shows the distribution of
radionuclide within the tissue
• The higher the consumption rate, the higher
emission of photon
• Consumption rate indicates the metabolic
rate of the cell
APPLICATION OF METABOLISM IN
IMAGING
• The image would appear as
– Hot spot: high distribution of
radiopharmaceuticals - high
metabolic rate
– Clod spot: low distribution – low
metabolic rate
APPLICATION OF METABOLISM IN
IMAGING
1. Functional MRI (fMRI)
• Had been applied in neurology -
imaging of the brain
• The study of part of brain that trigger
emotional mechanism (anger, sad,
happiness)
• The triggered signal is basically due to
work done by neurons from the brain
APPLICATION OF METABOLISM IN
IMAGING
• As the work done by cells require
oxygen for its metabolism, the fMRI
studied the concentration of oxygen in
the part of brain that triggered the
emotional mechanism
• The fMRI differs from conventional MRI
– fMRI uses oxygen as image percursor
– Conventional MRI uses hydrogen as image
percursor
APPLICATION OF METABOLISM IN
IMAGING