Serum concentrations of ketones increase after hand-ergometer exercise in persons with cervical spinal cord injuries: a preliminary prospective study

Abstract

Study design: Experimental study.

Objectives: To compare lipid profiles during moderate-intensity exercise between persons with cervical spinal cord injuries (SCI_C) and able-bodied controls (AB).

Setting: Wakayama Medical University, Japan.

Methods: Six participants with SCI_C and six AB performed 30-min arm-crank exercise at 50% VO_2peak. Blood samples were collected before (PRE), immediately (POST), and 60 min after exercise (REC). Concentrations of serum free fatty acids ([FFA]_s), total ketone bodies ([tKB]_s), acetoacetic acid ([AcAc]_s), insulin ([Ins]_s), and plasma catecholamines and glucose ([Glc]_p) were assessed.

Results: Catecholamine concentrations in SCI_C were lower than AB throughout the experiment (P < 0.001) and remained unchanged, while increased at POST in AB (P < 0.01). [FFA]_s remained unchanged in both groups with no differences between groups. [tKB]_s in SCI_C tended to increase at REC from PRE (P = 0.043), while remaining unchanged in AB (P > 0.42). [AcAc]_s in SCI_C increased at REC from PRE and POST (P < 0.01) while remaining unchanged in AB (interactions of Group × Time P = 0.014). [Glc]_p and [Ins]_s were comparable between the groups throughout the study.

Conclusion: Serum ketone bodies in SCI_C increased after exercise while remaining unchanged in AB, suggesting that suppressed uptakes of serum ketone bodies from blood to the muscles in SCI_C would partially contribute the increased serum ketones.