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Effect of Exercise on Energy Metabolism

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A special issue of Metabolites (ISSN 2218-1989). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 July 2021) | Viewed by 30674

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Prof. Dr. Vassilis Mougios

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Evaluation of Human Biological Performance, School of Physical Education and Sport Science at Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thermi, 57000 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: exercise biochemistry and physiology; exercise metabolomics; sport nutrition
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Physical exercise constitutes one of the most potent modifiers of energy metabolism, since it involves tremendous changes in energy demand, often within seconds, for muscle activity. This demand is met by a variety of substrates including ATP, phosphocreatine, carbohydrates, lipids, and (to a lesser degree) proteins through complex regulatory mechanisms, several of which are yet to be fully unraveled. Being modulated by numerous exercise parameters (such as type, intensity, duration, and acute vs. chronic in nature), characteristics of the exercising organism (such as species, sex, age, nutritional state, training state, and the genome), and environmental factors (such as ambient temperature and hypoxia), energy metabolism during exercise offers infinite combinations to experiment with and has fascinated researchers for decades.

The aim of the present Special Issue is to serve as a forum for the publication of original studies addressing the effects of exercise on energy metabolism at the subcellular, cellular, tissue, and organismal levels. There are no restrictions regarding species, sex (although inclusion of female subjects is encouraged), age, health status, exercise parameters, or whether research is of a basic or applied character (targeting sport performance or health). Likewise, there are no restrictions regarding the analytical techniques used.

We hope that this Special Issue will become an important addition to the existing body of knowledge on exercise metabolism.

Prof. Dr. Vassilis Mougios
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Metabolites is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

exercise
physical activity
energy metabolism
ATP
phosphocreatine
carbohydrates
lipids
proteins
sport performance
health

Published Papers (9 papers)

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27 pages, 3707 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (Sparc) KO Leads to an Accelerated Ageing Phenotype Which Is Improved by Exercise Whereas SPARC Overexpression Mimics Exercise Effects in Mice

by Abdelaziz Ghanemi, Aicha Melouane, Mayumi Yoshioka and Jonny St-Amand

Metabolites 2022, 12(2), 125; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo12020125 - 28 Jan 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2959

Abstract

Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a matricellular glycoprotein implicated in various functions, including metabolism, tissue regeneration, and functional homeostasis. SPARC/Sparc declines with ageing but increases with exercise. We aim to verify two hypotheses: (1) SPARC deficiency leads to an ageing-like phenotype (metabolic decline, muscle loss, etc.), and (2) SPARC overexpression would mimic exercise, counteract ageing, and improve age-related changes. Our mice experiments are divided into two parts. First, we explore the consequences of Sparc knockout (KO) and compare them to the ageing effects. We also observe the effects of exercise. In the second part, we study the effects of SPARC overexpression and compare them to the exercise benefits. At the end, we make an analysis of the results to point out the analogies between Sparc KO and the ageing-like phenotype on the one hand and make comparisons between SPARC overexpression and exercise in the context of exercise counteracting ageing. The measurements were mainly related to tissue weights, adiposity, metabolism, and muscle strength. The main findings are that Sparc KO reduced glucose tolerance, muscle glucose transporter expression, and abdominal adipose tissue weight but increased glycogen content in the muscle. SPARC overexpression increased muscle strength, muscle mass, and expressions of the muscle glucose transporter and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation but lowered the glycemia and the adiposity, especially in males. Collectively, these findings, and the data we have previously reported, show that Sparc KO mice manifest an ageing-like phenotype, whereas SPARC overexpression and exercise generate similar benefits. The benefits are towards counteracting both the SPARC deficiency-induced ageing-like phenotype as well as reversing the age-related changes. The potential applications of these findings are to build/optimize Sparc KO-based animal models of various health conditions and, on the other hand, to develop therapies based on introducing SPARC or targeting SPARC-related pathways to mimic exercise against age-related and metabolic disorders. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Exercise on Energy Metabolism)

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24 pages, 2269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sex-Specific Relationship between the Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Plasma Metabolite Patterns in Healthy Humans—Results of the KarMeN Study

by Sina Kistner, Maik Döring, Ralf Krüger, Manuela J. Rist, Christoph H. Weinert, Diana Bunzel, Benedikt Merz, Katrin Radloff, Rainer Neumann, Sascha Härtel and Achim Bub

Metabolites 2021, 11(7), 463; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo11070463 - 17 Jul 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3769

Abstract

Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) represents a strong predictor of all-cause mortality and is strongly influenced by regular physical activity (PA). However, the biological mechanisms involved in the body’s adaptation to PA remain to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to systematically examine the relationship between CRF and plasma metabolite patterns in 252 healthy adults from the cross-sectional Karlsruhe Metabolomics and Nutrition (KarMeN) study. CRF was determined by measuring the peak oxygen uptake during incremental exercise. Fasting plasma samples were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry coupled to one- or two-dimensional gas chromatography or liquid chromatography. Based on this multi-platform metabolomics approach, 427 plasma analytes were detected. Bi- and multivariate association analyses, adjusted for age and menopausal status, showed that CRF was linked to specific sets of metabolites primarily indicative of lipid metabolism. However, CRF-related metabolite patterns largely differed between sexes. While several phosphatidylcholines were linked to CRF in females, single lyso-phosphatidylcholines and sphingomyelins were associated with CRF in males. When controlling for further assessed clinical and phenotypical parameters, sex-specific CRF tended to be correlated with a smaller number of metabolites linked to lipid, amino acid, or xenobiotics-related metabolism. Interestingly, sex-specific CRF explanation models could be improved when including selected plasma analytes in addition to clinical and phenotypical variables. In summary, this study revealed sex-related differences in CRF-associated plasma metabolite patterns and proved known associations between CRF and risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases such as fat mass, visceral adipose tissue mass, or blood triglycerides in metabolically healthy individuals. Our findings indicate that covariates like sex and, especially, body composition have to be considered when studying blood metabolic markers related to CRF. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Exercise on Energy Metabolism)

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14 pages, 1902 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Fasting or Ketogenic Diet on Endurance Exercise Performance and Metabolism in Female Mice

by Lola E. Holcomb, Caitlin C. O’Neill, Elizabeth A. DeWitt and Stephen C. Kolwicz, Jr.

Metabolites 2021, 11(6), 397; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo11060397 - 18 Jun 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4765

Abstract

The promotion of ketone body (KB) metabolism via ketosis has been suggested as a strategy to increase exercise performance. However, studies in humans and animals have yielded inconsistent results. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of ketosis, achieved via fasting or a short-term ketogenic diet (KD), on endurance exercise performance in female mice. After 8 h of fasting, serum KB significantly increased and serum glucose significantly decreased in fasted compared to fed mice. When subjected to an endurance exercise capacity (EEC) test on a motorized treadmill, both fed and fasted mice showed similar EEC performance. A 5-week KD (90% calories from fat) significantly increased serum KB but did not increase EEC times compared to chow-fed mice. KD mice gained significantly more weight than chow-fed mice and had greater adipose tissue mass. Biochemical tissue analysis showed that KD led to significant increases in triglyceride content in the heart and liver and significant decreases in glycogen content in the muscle and liver. Furthermore, KD downregulated genes involved in glucose and KB oxidation and upregulated genes involved in lipid metabolism in the heart. These findings suggest that a short-term KD is not an effective strategy to enhance exercise performance and may lead to increased adiposity, abnormal endogenous tissue storage, and cardiometabolic remodeling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Exercise on Energy Metabolism)

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16 pages, 1816 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamics of Fat Oxidation from Sitting at Rest to Light Exercise in Inactive Young Humans

by Julie Calonne, Elie-Jacques Fares, Jean-Pierre Montani, Yves Schutz, Abdul Dulloo and Laurie Isacco

Metabolites 2021, 11(6), 334; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo11060334 - 24 May 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2652

Abstract

Societal erosion of daily life low-level physical activity has had a great influence on the obesity epidemic. Given that low fat oxidation is also a risk factor for obesity, we investigated, in a repeated measures design, the dynamics of fat oxidation from a resting state to a light-intensity leg cycling exercise (0–50 watts) in inactive, healthy young adults. Using indirect calorimetry, energy expenditure and the respiratory quotient (RQ) were assessed in a sitting posture at rest and during a cycling exercise in 35 subjects (20 women). The rate of perceived exhaustion (RPE) was assessed using the Borg Scale. During graded leg cycling, the mean RPE did not exceed values corresponding to the exercise being perceived as ‘light’. However, analysis of individual data at 50 watts revealed two distinct subgroups among the subjects: those having RPE values corresponding to the exercise being perceived as ‘very light to light’ and showing no increase in RQ relative to resting levels, as opposed to an increase in RQ in those who perceived the exercise as being ‘somewhat hard to hard’ (p < 0.001). Our study in inactive individuals showing that high fat oxidation was maintained during ‘light-perceived’ physical activity reinforced the potential importance of light physical activity in the prevention of obesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Exercise on Energy Metabolism)

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21 pages, 990 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Low-Protein High-Fat Diet Leads to Loss of Body Weight and White Adipose Tissue Weight via Enhancing Energy Expenditure in Mice

by Yifeng Rang, Sihui Ma, Jiao Yang, Huan Liu, Katsuhiko Suzuki and Chunhong Liu

Metabolites 2021, 11(5), 301; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo11050301 - 11 May 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2923

Abstract

Obesity has become a worldwide health problem over the past three decades. During obesity, metabolic dysfunction of white adipose tissue (WAT) is a key factor increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes. A variety of diet approaches have been proposed for the prevention and treatment of obesity. The low-protein high-fat diet (LPHF) is a special kind of high-fat diet, characterized by the intake of a low amount of protein, while compared to typical high-fat diet, may induce weight loss and browning of WAT. Physical activity is another effective intervention to treat obesity by reducing WAT mass, inducing browning of WAT. In order to determine whether an LPHF, along with exercise enhanced body weight loss and body fat loss as well as the synergistic effect of an LPHF and exercise on energy expenditure in a mice model, we combined a 10-week LPHF with an 8-week forced treadmill training. Meanwhile, a traditional high-fat diet (HPHF) containing the same fat and relatively more protein was introduced as a comparison. In the current study, we further analyzed energy metabolism-related gene expression, plasma biomarkers, and related physiological changes. When comparing to HPHF, which induced a dramatic increase in body weight and WAT weight, the LPHF led to considerable loss of body weight and WAT, without muscle mass and strength decline, while it exhibited a risk of liver and pancreas damage. The mechanism underlying the LPHF-induced loss of body weight and WAT may be attributed to the synergistically upregulated expression of Ucp1 in WAT and Fgf21 in the liver, which may enhance energy expenditure. The 8-week training did not further enhance weight loss and increased plasma biomarkers of muscle damage when combined with LPHF. Furthermore, LPHF reduced the expression of fatty acid oxidation-related genes in adipose tissues, muscle tissues, and liver. Our results indicated that an LPHF has potential for obesity treatment, while the physiological condition should be monitored during application. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Exercise on Energy Metabolism)

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11 pages, 1839 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Acute Effects of Swimming Exercise on PGC-1α-FNDC5/Irisin-UCP1 Expression in Male C57BL/6J Mice

by Eunhee Cho, Da Yeon Jeong, Jae Geun Kim and Sewon Lee

Metabolites 2021, 11(2), 111; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo11020111 - 16 Feb 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2578

Abstract

Irisin is a myokine primarily secreted by skeletal muscles and is known as an exercise-induced hormone. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the PGC-1α -FNDC5 /Irisin-UCP1 expression which is an irisin-related signaling pathway, is activated by an acute swimming exercise. Fourteen to sixteen weeks old male C57BL/6J mice (n = 20) were divided into control (CON, n = 10) and swimming exercise groups (SEG, n = 10). The SEG mice performed 90 min of acute swimming exercise, while control (non-exercised) mice were exposed to shallow water (2 cm of depth) for 90 min. The mRNA and protein expression of PGC-1α, FNDC5 and browning markers including UCP1 were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting. Serum irisin concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An acute swimming exercise did not lead to alterations in the mRNA and protein expression of PGC-1α in both soleus and gastrocnemius muscles, the mRNA and protein expression of UCP1 in brown adipose tissue, mRNA browning markers in visceral adipose tissue and circulating irisin when compared with the control group. On the other hand, an acute swimming exercise led to increases in the mRNA and protein expressions of FNDC5 in the soleus muscle, the protein expression of FNDC5 in the gastrocnemius muscles and the protein expression of UCP1 in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Exercise on Energy Metabolism)

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17 pages, 2061 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Resting Energy Expenditure of Physically Active Boys in Southeastern Poland—The Accuracy and Validity of Predictive Equations

by Edyta Łuszczki, Aneta Sokal, Sara Jarmakiewicz-Czaja, Anna Bartosiewicz, Katarzyna Dereń, Maciej Kuchciak, Paweł Jagielski and Artur Mazur

Metabolites 2020, 10(12), 493; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo10120493 - 01 Dec 2020

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2632

Abstract

Optimization of energy intake in the diet of young athletes is of primary importance. In addition to the energy expenditure associated with their body development, the demand resulting from intensive physical activity also increases. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of formulas commonly used for resting energy expenditure (REE) calculations with values obtained from measurements using indirect calorimetry among male children and adolescents practicing football. The study was conducted among 184 boys aged 9 to 17 using a calorimeter and a device for assessing body composition by means of electrical bioimpedance using a segment analyzer. The mean error ranged from −477 kcal/d by the Maffeis formula to −182 kcal/d for the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies (IMNA) formula. A statistically significant difference was found for all formulas in the calculated value in relation to the measured REE value (p < 0.0001). Most “ready-to-use” formulas underestimate REE, which can be a risk in determining the total energy demand in a group that requires more calories, especially when due to intensive growth and development and the expenditure associated with regular training and increased physical activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Exercise on Energy Metabolism)

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17 pages, 2638 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Aging, Long-Term and Lifelong Exercise on the Urinary Metabolic Footprint of Rats

by Anastasia Tzimou, Stefanos Nikolaidis, Olga Begou, Aikaterina Siopi, Olga Deda, Ioannis Taitzoglou, Georgios Theodoridis and Vassilis Mougios

Metabolites 2020, 10(12), 481; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo10120481 - 25 Nov 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2907

Abstract

Life expectancy has risen in the past decades, resulting in an increase in the number of aged individuals. Exercise remains one of the most cost-effective treatments against disease and the physical consequences of aging. The purpose of this research was to investigate the effects of aging, long-term and lifelong exercise on the rat urinary metabolome. Thirty-six male Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups: exercise from 3 to 12 months of age (A), lifelong exercise from 3 to 21 months of age (B), no exercise (C), and exercise from 12 to 21 months of age (D). Exercise consisted in swimming for 20 min/day, 5 days/week. Urine samples collection was performed at 3, 12 and 21 months of life and their analysis was conducted by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Multivariate analysis of the metabolite data did not show any discrimination between groups at any of the three aforementioned ages. However, multivariate analysis discriminated the three ages clearly when the groups were treated as one. Univariate analysis showed that training increased the levels of urinary amino acids and possibly protected against sarcopenia, as evidenced by the higher levels of creatine in the exercising groups. Aging was accompanied by decreased levels of urinary amino acids and signs of increased glycolysis. Concluding, both aging and, to a lesser degree, exercise affected the rat urinary metabolome, including metabolites related to energy metabolism, with exercise showing a potential to mitigate the consequences of aging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Exercise on Energy Metabolism)

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15 pages, 8326 KiB

Open AccessReview

Signals from the Circle: Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle Intermediates as Myometabokines

by Jennifer Maurer, Miriam Hoene and Cora Weigert

Metabolites 2021, 11(8), 474; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/metabo11080474 - 23 Jul 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3814

Abstract

Regular physical activity is an effective strategy to prevent and ameliorate aging-associated diseases. In particular, training increases muscle performance and improves whole-body metabolism. Since exercise affects the whole organism, it has countless health benefits. The systemic effects of exercise can, in part, be explained by communication between the contracting skeletal muscle and other organs and cell types. While small proteins and peptides known as myokines are the most prominent candidates to mediate this tissue cross-talk, recent investigations have paid increasing attention to metabolites. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential role of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) metabolites as humoral mediators of exercise adaptation processes. We focus on TCA metabolites that are released from human skeletal muscle in response to exercise and provide an overview of their potential auto-, para- or endocrine health-promoting effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effect of Exercise on Energy Metabolism)

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