Carbohydrate metabolism during exercise in females: Effect of reduced fat availability

Abstract

This study examined the effect of reduced plasma free fatty acid (FFA) availability on carbohydrate metabolism during exercise. Six untrained women cycled for 60 minutes at approximately 58% of maximum oxygen uptake after ingestion of a placebo (CON) or nicotinic acid (NA), 30 minutes before exercise (7.4 ± 0.5 mg·kg−1 body weight), and at 0 minutes (3.7 ± 0.3 mg·kg−1) and 30 minutes (3.7 ± 0.3 mg·kg−1) of exercise. Glucose kinetics were measured using a primed, continuous infusion of [6,6-2H] glucose. Plasma FFA (CON, 0.86 ± 0.12; NA, 0.21 ± 0.11 mmol·L−1 at 60 minutes, P < .05) and glycerol (CON, 0.34 ± 0.05; NA, 0.10 ± 0.04 mmol·L−1 at 60 minutes, P < .05) were suppressed throughout exercise. Mean respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during exercise was higher (P < .05) in NA (0.89 ± 0.02) than CON (0.83 ± 0.02). Plasma glucose and glucose production were similar between trials. Total glucose uptake during exercise was greater (P < .05) in NA (1,876 ± 161 μmol·kg−1) than in CON (1,525 ± 107 μmol·kg−1). Total fat oxidation was reduced (P < .05) by approximately 32% during exercise in NA. Total carbohydrate oxidized was approximately 42% greater (P < .05) in NA (412 ± 40 mmol) than CON (290 ± 37 mmol), of which, approximately 16% (20 ± 10 mmol) could be attributed to glucose. Plasma insulin and glucagon were similar between trials. Catecholamines were higher (P < .05) during exercise in NA. In summary, during prolonged moderate exercise in untrained women, reduced FFA availability results in a compensatory increase in carbohydrate oxidation, which appears to be due predominantly to an increase in glycogen utilization, although there was a small, but significant, increase in whole body glucose uptake.