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Associations of human skeletal muscle fiber type and insulin sensitivity, blood lipids, and vascular hemodynamics in a cohort of premenopausal women

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Abstract

Purpose

Cardiometabolic disease remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developed nations. Consequently, identifying and understanding factors associated with underlying pathophysiological processes leading to chronic cardio metabolic conditions is critical. Metabolic health, arterial elasticity, and insulin sensitivity (SI) may impact disease risk, and may be determined in part by myofiber type. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that type I myofiber composition would be associated with high SI, greater arterial elasticity, lower blood pressure, and blood lipids; whereas, type IIx myofibers would be associated with lower SI, lower arterial elasticity, higher blood pressure, blood lipids.

Methods

Muscle biopsies were performed on the vastus lateralis in 16 subjects (BMI = 27.62 ± 4.71 kg/m2, age = 32.24 ± 6.37 years, 43% African American). The distribution of type I, IIa, and IIx myofibers was determined via immunohistochemistry performed on frozen cross-sections. Pearson correlation analyses were performed to assess associations between myofiber composition, SI, arterial elasticity, blood pressure, and blood lipid concentrations.

Results

The percentage of type I myofibers positively correlated with SI and negatively correlated with systolic blood pressure SBP, diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure (MAP); whereas, the percentage of type IIx myofibers were negatively correlated with SI and large artery elasticity, and positively correlated with LDL cholesterol, SBP, and MAP.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate a potential link between myofiber composition and cardiometabolic health outcomes in a cohort of premenopausal women. Future research is needed to determine the precise mechanisms in which myofiber composition impacts the pathophysiology of impaired glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as vascular dysfunction.

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Abbreviations

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

LAE:

Large artery elasticity

LDL:

Low density lipoprotein

MAP:

Mean arterial blood pressure

SAE:

Small artery elasticity

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

SI:

Insulin sensitivity

TVI:

Total vascular impedance

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Acknowledgements

We would like to recognize Brandon Kane for his assistance in coordinating this study. We would also like to thank the UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science and the Clinical Research Unit for their assistance with the clamp procedure and muscle biopsies. This work was supported by the NIH Grants P30DK56336, P60DK079626, and 2R01DK049779-11A1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Human Studies, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA

    Gordon Fisher, Perry Griffin & Gary R. Hunter

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA

    Samuel T. Windham

  3. Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA

    Jonathan L. Warren & Barbara A. Gower

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  1. Gordon Fisher
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  2. Samuel T. Windham
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  3. Perry Griffin
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  4. Jonathan L. Warren
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  6. Gary R. Hunter
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Contributions

GF wrote the manuscript, assisted with data collection, performed data and statistical analysis, and reviewed and edited the manuscript. GH designed the study, assisted with data collection, assisted with data and statistical analysis, and reviewed and edited the manuscript. BG designed the study, assisted with data collection and analysis, and reviewed and edited the manuscript. SW conducted the muscle biopsies and assisted with study design. PG conducted fiber type experiments and assisted with data collection. JW assisted with fiber type experiments and assisted with data collection.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gordon Fisher.

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The author's declare no conflicts of interest.

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Communicated by Carsten Lundby.

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Fisher, G., Windham, S.T., Griffin, P. et al. Associations of human skeletal muscle fiber type and insulin sensitivity, blood lipids, and vascular hemodynamics in a cohort of premenopausal women. Eur J Appl Physiol 117, 1413–1422 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3634-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3634-9

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