Estimation of Theoretical Calorific Relationships as a Teaching Technique. A Review

Abstract

A series of theoretical estimates of the efficiencies of metabolic and physiological processes which can be related to nutritional energetic measurements such as heat increment, net energy, and basal metabolism is presented. Metabolic models are presented which account for major portion of the energy transformations associated with the heat increment of feeding carbohydrate to animals under maintenance conditions and the estimated efficiencies of utilization of metabolizable energy for milk synthesis and growth. A minor portion of the energy transformations related to maintenance were considered. The formulations were presented with the view that they may be a useful teaching aid in undergraduate and graduate courses in nutrition.