A novel method for measuring diet-induced thermogenesis in mice

Tomomi Yamazaki; Reina Ikaga; Dongyang Li; Satoshi Nakae; Shigeho Tanaka

doi:10.1016/j.mex.2019.08.016

A novel method for measuring diet-induced thermogenesis in mice

MethodsX. 2019 Sep 10:6:1950-1956. doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2019.08.016. eCollection 2019.

Authors

Tomomi Yamazaki¹, Reina Ikaga¹, Dongyang Li^{1

2}, Satoshi Nakae³, Shigeho Tanaka⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Nutrition, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8636, Japan.
² The Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, 2-1-1 Otsuka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 112-8610, Japan.
³ Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1-3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560-8531, Japan.
⁴ Department of Nutrition and Metabolism, National Institute of Health and Nutrition, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-8636, Japan.

Abstract

Diet-induced thermogenesis (DIT) refers to energy expenditure (EE) related to food consumption. Enhancing DIT can lead to weight loss. Factors that increase DIT are expected to lower body mass index and body fat mass. Although various methods have been developed for measuring DIT in humans, there is currently no method available for calculating absolute DIT values in mice. Therefore, we attempted to measure DIT in mice by applying the method more commonly used for humans. Mouse energy metabolism was first measured under fasting conditions; EE was plotted against the square root of the activity count, and a linear regression equation was fit to the data. Then, energy metabolism was measured in mice that were allowed to feed ad libitum, and EE was plotted in the same way. We calculated the DIT by subtracting the predicted EE value from the fed EE value for the same activity count. The methodology for measuring DIT in mice may be helpful for researching ways of combatting obesity by increasing DIT. •The methodology for measuring absolute DIT values in mice is developed.•For mice, the proportion of DIT compared with calorie intake and EE are 12.3% and 21.7%, respectively.

Keywords: Energy expenditure; Measurement of diet-induced thermogenesis in mice; Mice; Physical activity; Thermic effect of food.