Background
The human metabolic chamber uses indirect calorimetry, which measures oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. Real time energy consumption is calculated by the Weir formula.
The metabolic chamber has been widely used to study physiological activities such as diet, sleep, exercise and energy metabolism and explore mechanisms in disease states such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. In the 1980s Cambridge University and the United States National Institutes of Health built metabolic chambers. Since then dozens of research institutions, including those in have constructed metabolic chambers for research. Metabolic chambers, or more specifically Whole Room Indirect Calorimeters, have become one of the most important research tools for studying human energy metabolism. And as the prevalence of metabolic diseases has increased, and the role of energy metabolic balance has received greater attention, metabolic chambers have been used as an entry point for the prevention and diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Advanced research methods for exploring human energy metabolism
The use of human metabolic chambers offers real-time data; simultaneous measurement of multiple energy metabolism indicators and long-term observation of the unrestrained activity of subjects. In comparison with Doubly Labeled Water Energy Measurement Method, metabolic chamber data can provide almost real-time feedback on changes in the body's metabolism.
The metabolic chamber can simultaneously measure the 24 hour energy expenditure and its components, such as Basal Metabolic Rate, Sleep Metabolic Rate, thermal effect of food, and activity energy consumption, as a proportion of 24 hour Energy Expenditure and the corresponding Respiratory Quotient.
The metabolic chamber is significantly more accurate than a breathing hood, and using the formula method of calculating BMR and the calculation of AEE based on PAL. As the subjects’ energy expenditure remains basically stable for 24 hours, a single measurement can accurately reflect the individual's level of energy consumption.
When compared with breathing masks, face masks and other devices, the metabolic chamber environment simulates unrestricted daily life of the subject to a much greater extent, permitting long-term continuous measurement.
What can the human metabolic chamber do?
Basal Metabolic Rate refers to the energy expenditure value of lying still in a thermoneutral environment after waking in the morning, accounting for about 80% of 24 hour Energy Expenditure, and is also the most commonly used indicator in energy metabolism research, affected by factors such as Fat Free Mass (FFM), Fat Mass (FM), gender, age, race, temperature, physiological conditions and disease status.
Sleep Metabolic Rate is generally calculated by selecting a three consecutive periods of physical activity during sleep or during the lowest mean energy consumption. Metabolic chambers can be used to determine the effects of sleep rhythm disturbances on energy balance or metabolic substrate selection, for example, and then explore the mechanisms by which sleep deficiency or sleep status leads to metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes
Diet Induced Thermogenisis effect, accounting for about 10% of 24 hour Energy Expenditure. The metabolic chamber can be used to explore the impact of DIT by restricting post-meal activities to limit exercise energy consumption, and thereby to explore the impact of dietary total calories, nutrient composition ratio, eating time and scheduling on DIT, and the effect of diet and energy expenditure on the development of metabolic diseases such as obesity.
The Human Metabolic Chamber can be used for detecting various types of sedentary behaviour energy metabolism, such as watching television, using mobile phones and playing video games and allow and assessment of the effect of modern lifestyle on energy metabolism and metabolic diseases.
Advanced means of assessment
for human metabolic rate detection
Using the metabolic chamber:
Detection of energy metabolism in a large sample of healthy subjects to establish a normal reference range of energy metabolism in the population;
Recruit patients with various endocrine diseases to evaluate the disease status of patients with various endocrine diseases and the impact of intervention on clinical treatment process;
Establish a cohort for follow-up to explore the regularity of energy metabolism in the occurrence and development of the disease;
To assess or predict the efficacy of existing treatments for metabolic diseases such as obesity;
Auxiliary new drug development, such as weight loss drugs to improve energy metabolism rate, fat loss drugs to enhance fat oxidation.
Typical chamber type (conventional protocol)
The internal space of the standard metabolic chamber is spacious (typical size: 3.5m×3.0m×2.5m, customizable). It is a comfortable home environment and suitable for long-term (≥ 10 h) human metabolism monitoring. It detects the energy expenditure, respiratory quotient and other important physiological parameters of the human body under various behavior modes or physiological states in the metabolic monitoring chamber. Absolute sealing of the entire chamber was is necessary and ensures experimental safety.
The human resting metabolic chamber is small (2.0m×2.0m×2.1m), so higher-resolution metabolic test data can be obtained. It is generally used for short-term metabolic monitoring, such as 1-hour monitoring. High-resolution and high-precision monitoring of resting metabolic rate in the natural and unrestrained state is mainly used to study the food thermal effect (TEF) and sleep.
Exercise metabolic chamber (2.5m×2.5m×3.0m), is used for metabolic monitoring of exercising subjects in an unrestrained state. The higher ceiling ensures that the tested individuals are not restricted by the active space. Its application includes the study of exercise intervention in the treatment of diseases, especially in frail subjects, who cannot be monitored for a long time in a large standard metabolic chamber. In this case, a short monitoring in the exercise chamber is performed to obtain meaningful metabolic data. Exercise interventions can be monitored in the exercise metabolic chamber for patients with diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Lou Gherig's disease, Huntington's disease, and cerebral palsy. In terms of exercise therapy, for obese surgical patients with mobility issues, relevant tests can be performed in the exercise metabolic chamber. The exercise metabolic chamber is also suitable for physiological phenotype studies.
In addition, we can also customize the cabin according to your scientific research and clinical requirements.
Energy Metabolism Monitoring System
Metabolic chamber (including conventional illumination, doors and windows, toilet bowl, basin, blood- drawing port.)
Temperature control system (16-30 °C)
Fresh air supply system
Stable isotope gas analysis system (13C, 18O), specific nutrient study
Extreme Temperature Environmental Simulation
Specific Light Simulation System
Specific sound effect simulation system
Odor simulation system
High altitude hypoxia environment simulation system
Automatic Urine / Faecal Separation toilet
Human Behavioural Studies
Wearable physiological parameter monitoring system
Complete Turn-key Service
Sable Systems was founded in 1987 and is now based in Las Vegas, USA. The company is specialized in the R & D and equipment manufacturing of respiratory metabolism monitoring technology, which can provide metabolic monitoring solutions for animals and humans (flies, hummingbirds, gecko, reptiles, rodents, rabbits, dogs, livestock, primates and humans, etc.). Sable is a company founded by scientists that continues to develop cutting-edge metabolic monitoring systems to ensure that users obtain data with the highest accuracy and resolution.
At present, almost 20 top universities, hospitals and institutes in the world have selected Sable's human metabolism monitoring chambers, with users in China, North America, Europe, Australia and the Middle East, and their market share is the first in the world.
China Gate Scientific is the exclusive agent and partner of Sable Systems in Greater China. It is a scientific and technological platform with 15 years of experience in the operation and implementation of biomedical scientific research equipment, which brings together advanced project landing experience in Europe and the United States and strives to provide perfect life science systems and professional technical solutions for Chinese scientific researchers. Since 2006, with the support of the majority of scientific research institutions and hospitals in China, China Gate and our consultants in various regions have provided equipment and technical support for hundreds of biomedical laboratories. Our company is equipped with professional technical engineers and project management experts. After strict professional training by Sable Systems, we provide high-quality and efficient services for customers. China Gate can provide one-stop human metabolic chamber project consultation, design, construction, training, and support with experimental design, data processing, equipment maintenance and other comprehensive services for users in China.
Consultant
Research Professor, Department of Physical Sciences, University of Nevada
Dr. John Lighton, founder and chief scientist of Sable, is a world-renowned respiratory metabolism research expert, adjunct professor in the Department of Physiology at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has published nearly 100 articles on metabolism, and is the author of: Measuring Metabolic Rates: A Manual for Scientist. Oxford University Press.
Thomas has been Executive Director of Customer Service since 2024. Overseeing all technical support functions, Thomas ensures that customers receive the highest level of service and support. Originally from Germany, Thomas holds a PhD in Animal Physiology from the Humboldt University of Berlin, with his thesis focused on insect respiration. He later moved to the United States for post-doctoral research at the University of Montana, sought for his expertise in data science, data analytics, mathematics, and programming. Thomas began his career at Sable Systems as a Research Scientist, quickly demonstrating his expertise and dedication. His outstanding contributions led to his promotion to Senior Research Scientist, followed by taking on the newly formed Customer Service and Support team as their Manager. Thomas’s blend of technical prowess and commitment to customer satisfaction makes him a key leader in the Sable Systems team.
