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Intramyocellular lipid stores increase markedly in athletes after 1.5 days lipid supplementation and are utilized during exercise in proportion to their content

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Abstract

Intramyocellular lipids (IMCL) and muscle glycogen provide local energy during exercise (EX). The objective of this study was to clarify the role of high versus low IMCL levels at equal initial muscle glycogen on fuel selection during EX. After 3 h of depleting exercise, 11 endurance-trained males consumed in a crossover design a high-carbohydrate (7 g kg−1 day−1) low-fat (0.5 g kg−1 day−1) diet (HC) for 2.5 days or the same diet with 3 g kg−1 day−1 more fat provided during the last 1.5 days of diet (four meals; HCF). Respiratory exchange, thigh muscle substrate breakdown by magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and plasma FFA oxidation ([1-13C]palmitate) were measured during EX (3 h, 50% W max). Pre-EX IMCL concentrations were 55% higher after HCF. IMCL utilization during EX in HCF was threefold greater compared with HC (P < 0.001) and was correlated with aerobic power and highly correlated (P < 0.001) with initial content. Glycogen values and decrements during EX were similar. Whole-body fat oxidation (Fatox) was similar overall and plasma FFA oxidation smaller (P < 0.05) during the first EX hour after HCF. Myocellular fuels contributed 8% more to whole-body energy demands after HCF (P < 0.05) due to IMCL breakdown (27% Fatox). After EX, when both IMCL and glycogen concentrations were again similar across trials, a simulated 20-km time-trial showed no difference in performance between diets. In conclusion, IMCL concentrations can be increased during a glycogen loading diet by consuming additional fat for the last 1.5 days. During subsequent exercise, IMCL decrease in proportion to their initial content, partly in exchange for peripheral fatty acids.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the subjects of this study for their time and effort, Charles Schindler for preparing the sterile, pyrogene-free isotope solutions, Stéphane Berger, Anny Blondel, Bernard Decarli, Irina Monnard Jean-Marc Schneider, and Irène Zbinden for their skilled technical assistance. For evaluation of the glycogen spectra, the MRUI software package was kindly provided by the participants of the EU Network programs: Human Capital and Mobility, CHRX-CT94-0432 and Training and Mobility of Researchers, ERB-FMRX-CT970160. We appreciate Karin Zwygart for data acquisition. This work was supported by a grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (3100-065315).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Research, University and Inselspital, 3010, Bern, Switzerland

    Monica Zehnder, Michael Ith, Roland Kreis & Chris Boesch

  2. Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Inselspital, 3010, Bern, Switzerland

    Emanuel R. Christ, Roman Trepp & Peter Diem

  3. Nestlé Research Center, PO Box 44, 1000, Lausanne 26, Switzerland

    Kevin J. Acheson, Etienne Pouteau & Jacques Décombaz

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  1. Monica Zehnder
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  2. Emanuel R. Christ
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  3. Michael Ith
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  10. Jacques Décombaz
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Correspondence to Jacques Décombaz.

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Zehnder, M., Christ, E.R., Ith, M. et al. Intramyocellular lipid stores increase markedly in athletes after 1.5 days lipid supplementation and are utilized during exercise in proportion to their content. Eur J Appl Physiol 98, 341–354 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0279-5

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