Training affects muscle phospholipid fatty acid composition in humans

Jørn Wulff Helge, B J Wu, Mette Willer, J R Daugaard, L H Storlien, B Kiens

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124 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Training improves insulin sensitivity, which in turn may affect performance by modulation of fuel availability. Insulin action, in turn, has been linked to specific patterns of muscle structural lipids in skeletal muscle. This study investigated whether regular exercise training exerts an effect on the muscle membrane phospholipid fatty acid composition in humans. Seven male subjects performed endurance training of the knee extensors of one leg for 4 wk. The other leg served as a control. Before, after 4 days, and after 4 wk, muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis. After 4 wk, the phospholipid fatty acid contents of oleic acid 18:1(n-9) and docosahexaenoic acid 22:6(n-3) were significantly higher in the trained (10.9 +/- 0.5% and 3.2 +/- 0.4% of total fatty acids, respectively) than the untrained leg (8.8 +/- 0.5% and 2.6 +/- 0.4%, P <0.05). The ratio between n-6 and n-3 fatty acids was significantly lower in the trained (11.1 +/- 0.9) than the untrained leg (13.1 +/- 1.2, P <0.05). In contrast, training did not affect muscle triacylglycerol fatty acid composition. Citrate synthase activity was increased by 17% in the trained compared with the untrained leg (P <0.05). In this model, diet plays a minimal role, as the influence of dietary intake is similar on both legs. Regular exercise training per se influences the phospholipid fatty acid composition of muscle membranes but has no effect on the composition of fatty acids stored in triacylglycerols within the muscle.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Applied Physiology
Volume90
Issue number2
Pages (from-to)670-677
Number of pages8
ISSN8750-7587
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2001

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Docosahexaenoic Acids
  • Energy Intake
  • Exercise Test
  • Fatty Acids
  • Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal
  • Oleic Acids
  • Phospholipids
  • Physical Endurance
  • Triglycerides

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