Effect of increased fat availability on metabolism and exercise capacity

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002 Sep;34(9):1485-91. doi: 10.1097/00005768-200209000-00014.

Abstract

Several procedures have been utilized to elevate plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration and increase fatty acid (FA) delivery to skeletal muscle during exercise. These include fasting, caffeine ingestion, L-carnitine supplementation, ingestion of medium-chain and long-chain triglyceride (LCT) solutions, and intravenous infusion of intralipid emulsions. Studies in which both untrained and well-trained subjects have ingested LCT solutions or received an infusion of intralipid (in combination with an injection of heparin) before exercise have reported significant reductions in whole-body carbohydrate oxidation and decreased muscle glycogen utilization during both moderate and intense dynamic exercise lasting 15-60 min. The effects of increased FA provision on rates of muscle glucose uptake during exercise are, however, equivocal. Despite substantial muscle glycogen sparing (15-48% compared with control), exercise capacity is not systematically improved in the face of increased FA availability.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Caffeine / administration & dosage
  • Carnitine / administration & dosage
  • Energy Intake
  • Exercise / physiology
  • Exercise Tolerance / physiology*
  • Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / administration & dosage
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism*
  • Sports / physiology
  • Triglycerides / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Fat Emulsions, Intravenous
  • Fatty Acids
  • Triglycerides
  • Caffeine
  • Carnitine