Metabolomic Responses to Acute Aerobic and Anaerobic Exercise Bouts

Abstract

PURPOSE: To explore the acute serum metabolomic responses following single bouts of aerobic and anaerobic exercise in differentially-trained subjects. METHODS: Subjects (N = 40) were equally distributed into one of 4 groups (n = 10) based on a combination of sex [male (M) or female (F)] and training history [endurance (E) or resistance (R) trained] (M = 24 + 4 y, 160.5 + 17.2 kg, 12.8 + 5.7 %BF; F= 22 + 2 y 135.5 + 15.8 kg, 23.3 + 4.8 %BF). On separate days, 45 min aerobic (A) or weight-training (W) exercises were performed. Serum was collected pre, 0 & 60 min post exercise (T0, T1 & T2), and analyzed via UHPLC/MS for identification of 754 biochemicals. Principle components analysis (PCA) was used to define metabolite profiles. RMANOVA’s for sex, training status, exercise type, and time were run with significance set at P < .05. RESULTS: Both A and W increased glycolysis (A = 3.5 + .7 fold; W = 3.9 + 1.0 fold; P<.05), with a significantly greater activation for RW, P<.05. TCA activity (AVG = 1.5 + 0.3 & 1.9 + 0.3 fold; P<.05) also increased. Downstream TCA intermediates (succinate, fumarate, & malate) were increased at T1, particularly for succinate in E (P<.05), and returned to baseline by T2. During exercise, A increased fat metabolism as evidenced by elevation of multiple FFAs and acylcarnitines (i.e., palmitate increased 2.0 + 0.4 v 1.0 + 0.1 fold in A v W) and elevated ketone bodies at T1 in RA & EA. Across exercise conditions, E showed relatively lower FFA and BCAA catabolism than R at T2 (E v R changes from baseline: stearate =1.4 + 0.3 v 1.4 + 0.2 fold; 3-hydroxyisobutyrate = 1.8 + 0.2 v 2.2 + 0.1, P<.05) and generally faster returns towards baseline for all metabolites. Sex-dependent differences in global metabolite profiles were more pronounced in E than R groups, including elevated FFA’s and muted TCA intermediate levels and BCAA catabolism in FE during both A and W. CONCLUSION: The biological response to exercise is dictated by the metabolic demand of the exercise and the physiology of the exerciser, allowing exercise type and individual variation to alter the exercise metabolome. Data support greater TCA capacity in E and greater glycolytic power in R leading to differential fuel selection during exercise, particularly with matched mode. Females displayed lower TCA activity, yet higher FFA oxidation with sex differences most apparent in the E groups.