Glycemic response to a food starch esterified by 1-octenyl succinic anhydride in humans.

To evaluate the glycemic response to a food starch esterified by 1-octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA), 30 healthy nondiabetic adult subjects were studied in a double-blind crossover design. After an overnight fast, subjects consumed a product containing either 25 g of glucose or 25 g of OSA-substituted starch. Finger-prick capillary blood was obtained at baseline and 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min postprandial for glucose measurement. After OSA treatment, the rise in blood glucose was reduced (P < 0.05) at 15 and 30 min and tended (P < 0.08) to be lower at 45 min. Mean peak rise in glucose was reduced 19% (P < 0.01) by OSA (3.30 +/- 0.19 versus 2.66 +/- 0.16 mmol/L) compared to glucose, but time to peak did not differ between treatments. Net incremental area under the curve was also lower (P < 0.05) on OSA compared to glucose. Minimal effects on gastrointestinal symptoms (intensity and frequency of nausea, cramping, distention, and flatulence) were noted for both products, with no clinically significant difference between products. In conclusion, starch substitution with OSA attenuated the postprandial glycemic excursion compared to an equivalent glucose challenge and was well tolerated by fasting healthy adult subjects.

Glucagon response to exercise is critical for accelerated hepatic glutamine metabolism and nitrogen disposal.

The aim of this study was to determine the role of glucagon in hepatic glutamine (Gln) metabolism during exercise. Sampling (artery, portal vein, and hepatic vein) and infusion (vena cava) catheters and flow probes (portal vein, hepatic artery) were implanted in anesthetized dogs. At least 16 days after surgery, an experiment, consisting of a 120-min equilibration period, a 30-min basal sampling period, and a 150-min exercise period, was performed in these animals. [5-(15)N]Gln was infused throughout experiments to measure gut and liver Gln kinetics and the incorporation of Gln amide nitrogen into urea. Somatostatin was infused throughout the study. Glucagon was infused at a basal rate until the beginning of exercise, when the rate was either 1) gradually increased to simulate the glucagon response to exercise (n = 5) or 2) unchanged to maintain basal glucagon (n = 5). Insulin was infused during the equilibration and basal periods at rates designed to achieve stable euglycemia. The insulin infusion was reduced in both protocols to simulate the exercise-induced insulin decrement. These studies show that the exercise-induced increase in glucagon is 1) essential for the increase in hepatic Gln uptake and fractional extraction, 2) required for the full increment in ureagenesis, 3) required for the specific transfer of the Gln amide nitrogen to urea, and 4) unrelated to the increase in gut fractional Gln extraction. These data show, by use of the physiological perturbation of exercise, that glucagon is a physiological regulator of hepatic Gln metabolism in vivo.

Nutrition and exercise in individuals with diabetes.

Individuals with type 1 (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [IDDM]) and type 2 (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus [NIDDM]) diabetes should be encouraged to exercise. Although there is an absence of consistent evidence that adaptations to routine exercise improve glucose control in type 1 diabetes, there is evidence that shows improved glucose control in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Although both groups benefit from exercise, the merit and suitability of routine exercise is measured by the extent to which the advantageous adaptive effects of regular exercise surpass the risks of a sole bout of exercise. In addition, when considering acute versus routine exercise, special considerations must be given to children with diabetes and older adults at risk for insulin resistance. Finally, a greater research focus is needed on engaging in competitive and recreational sports so that children and adults with diabetes may participate safely in activities such as baseball, swimming, basketball, soccer, and hockey.

A negative arterial-portal venous glucose gradient decreases skeletal muscle glucose uptake.

The effect of a negative arterial-portal venous (a-pv) glucose gradient on skeletal muscle and whole body nonhepatic glucose uptake was studied in 12 42-h-fasted conscious dogs. Each study consisted of a 110-min equilibration period, a 30-min baseline period, and two 120-min hyperglycemic (2-fold basal) periods (either peripheral or intraportal glucose infusion). Somatostatin was infused along with insulin (3 x basal) and glucagon (basal). Catheters were inserted 17 days before studies in the external iliac artery and hepatic, portal and common iliac veins. Blood flow was measured in liver and hindlimb using Doppler flow probes. The arterial blood glucose, arterial plasma insulin, arterial plasma glucagon, and hindlimb glucose loads were similar during peripheral and intraportal glucose infusions. The a-pv glucose gradient (in mg/dl) was 5 +/- 1 during peripheral and -18 +/- 3 during intraportal glucose infusion. The net hindlimb glucose uptakes (in mg/min) were 5.0 +/- 1.2, 20.4 +/- 4.5, and 14.8 +/- 3.2 during baseline, peripheral, and intraportal glucose infusion periods, respectively (P < 0.01, peripheral vs. intraportal); the hindlimb glucose fractional extractions (in %) were 2.8 +/- 0.4, 4.7 +/- 0.8, and 3.9 +/- 0.5 during baseline, peripheral, and intraportal glucose infusions, respectively (P < 0. 05, peripheral vs. intraportal). The net whole body nonhepatic glucose uptakes (in mg . kg-1 . min-1) were 1.6 +/- 0.1, 7.9 +/- 1.3, and 5.4 +/- 1.1 during baseline, peripheral, and intraportal glucose infusion, respectively (P < 0.05, peripheral vs. intraportal). In the liver, net glucose uptake was 70% greater during intraportal than during peripheral glucose infusion (5.8 +/- 0.7 vs. 3.4 +/- 0.4 mg . kg-1 . min-1). In conclusion, despite comparable glucose loads and insulin levels, hindlimb and whole body net nonhepatic glucose uptake decreased significantly during portal venous glucose infusion, suggesting that a negative a-pv glucose gradient leads to an inhibitory signal in nonhepatic tissues, among which skeletal muscle appears to be the most important.

Sympathetic drive to liver and nonhepatic splanchnic tissue during prolonged exercise is increased in diabetes.

This study was conducted to assess whether nonhepatic splanchnic (NHS) and hepatic tissues contribute to the increase in circulating norepinephrine during prolonged exercise, and to determine whether such a response is exaggerated during exercise in the poorly controlled diabetic when the arterial norepinephrine response is excessive. Chronically catheterized (carotid artery, portal vein, and hepatic vein) and instrumented (Doppler flow probes on hepatic artery and portal vein) normal (n = 6) and alloxan-diabetic (n = 5) dogs were studied during rest (30 minutes) and moderate treadmill exercise (150 minutes). Basal plasma glucose of diabetic dogs was threefold that of control dogs. Since epinephrine is not released by splanchnic tissues, NHS and hepatic epinephrine fractional extraction (FX) can be accurately measured. Because epinephrine FX = norepinephrine FX, norepinephrine spillover can be calculated. NHS and hepatic epinephrine FX remained stable during rest and exercise in both control and diabetic dogs. Although basal NHS norepinephrine spillover was not different between the two groups, basal hepatic norepinephrine spillover was lower in the controls (1.1 +/- 0.3 ng/kg . min) compared with the diabetics (3.6 +/- 1.1 ng/kg . min). Although NHS norepinephrine spillover increased with exercise in the normal dog (3.1 +/- 0.6 ng/kg . min at t = 150 minutes), there was no increase in hepatic norepinephrine spillover (1.1 +/- 0.3 ng/kg . min at t = 150 minutes). In contrast, NHS (8.8 +/- 1.6 ng/kg . min at t = 150 minutes) and hepatic (6.9 +/- 1.8 ng/kg . min at t = 150 minutes) norepinephrine spillover were both markedly increased in the diabetic dog to rates approximately threefold and sixfold higher than in the normal dog. These data show that an increase in NHS but not hepatic norepinephrine spillover is a component of the normal response to prolonged exercise. The exaggerated increase in arterial norepinephrine during exercise in the diabetic state is due, in part, to both increased sympathetic drive to the gut and liver. This increase in sympathetic drive to the splanchnic bed may contribute to the deleterious effects of exercise in poorly controlled diabetes.

Interaction of exercise, insulin, and hypoglycemia studied using euglycemic and hypoglycemic insulin clamps.

Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic and hypoglycemic clamps were used to study the interaction of exercise, insulin, and hypoglycemia at rest and during exercise in the dog. Sampling (artery and portal, hepatic, and iliac veins) and infusion (vena cava) catheters and a flow probe (external iliac artery) were implanted surgically >16 days before study. After an 18-h fast and an 80-min tracer equilibration period, dogs were studied in the basal state (t = -40 to 0 min) and during a moderate treadmill exercise (t = 0-150 min) period or an equivalent duration sedentary period. Insulin was infused at 1 mU x kg(-1) x min(-1) from t = 0-150 min. In one group of sedentary (n = 7) and one group of exercised (n = 6) dogs, glucose was clamped at basal during the insulin infusion. In another group of sedentary (n = 6) and another group of exercised (n = 6) dogs, arterial glucose was clamped at hypoglycemic levels (approximately 65 mg/dl) during the insulin infusion. Arteriovenous difference and isotopic ([3-(3)H]glucose, [U-(14)C]glucose) techniques were used to assess glucose metabolism. Insulin levels were approximately 40 microU/ml in all groups. Data show that 1) counterregulatory hormone (glucagon, catecholamines, and cortisol) responses to exercise and hypoglycemia combined are synergistically higher than the response to either stimulus alone; 2) exercise-induced increases in insulin action are negated during hypoglycemia by the counterregulatory response; 3) decreased need for exogenous glucose during hypoglycemic compared with euglycemic exercise is due to stimulation of endogenous glucose production, which accounts for approximately 30% of the decrease, and reduction of glucose utilization, which accounts for approximately 70%; and 4) insulin-stimulated nonoxidative glucose metabolism is unaffected by exercise or hypoglycemia, whereas insulin-stimulated oxidative glucose metabolism is selectively increased by exercise and decreased by hypoglycemia. In conclusion, the marked rise in insulin action during exercise is matched, under insulin-induced hypoglycemic conditions, by an equally profound increase in counterregulation. The effectiveness of the potent insulin counterregulatory response may be important in decreasing the magnitude and frequency of exercise-induced hypoglycemia.

Role of the endocrine pancreas in control of fuel metabolism by the liver during exercise.

The secretions of the pancreas drain into the portal vein just upstream of the liver. This anatomical arrangement is an important component of hepatic function since the pancreatic hormones are key regulators of intermediary metabolism in the liver. In response to moderate-intensity exercise, the secretion of glucagon and insulin from the pancreas generally increase and decrease, respectively. This element of the endocrine response to exercise is critical to the maintenance of glucose homeostasis during exercise. The rise in glucagon and fall in insulin are important for the stimulation of hepatic glycogenolysis. The glucagon response is essential for the exercise-induced increase in gluconeogenesis. In addition, glucagon and insulin are also important to the increase in hepatic fat oxidation during exercise. The fall in insulin enhances the mobilization of NEFA's from adipose tissue and as a result the availability of NEFA's to the liver. The increase in glucagon enhances the oxidation of these NEFA's by stimulating pathways for fat oxidation inside the liver. Hepatic fractional amino acid extraction is increased by glucagon action during exercise. Moreover, the increase in glucagon facilitates the channeling of amino acid carbons to glucose and may play a role in disposal of associated nitrogen. Because of the important roles that glucagon and insulin play, any physiological or pathological condition that affects their secretion or efficacy will impact on the metabolic response to exercise.

Interaction of decreased arterial PO2 and exercise on carbohydrate metabolism in the dog.

To determine the mechanism by which low arterial PO2 (PaO2) affects muscle carbohydrate (CHO) metabolism during exercise, dogs inhaled gas consisting of 0.21 (NO; n = 6) or 0.11 (LO; n = 6) inspired oxygen fraction (FIO2) during rest and 150 min of moderate treadmill exercise. Limb arteriovenous difference and isotopic ([3H]- and [14C]glucose) methods were used to assess muscle carbohydrate metabolism: PaO2 was reduced by approximately 50% in LO vs. NO, but limb O2 uptake was similar. Glucose disappearance was increased during rest (13 +/- 2 vs. 19 +/- 1 mumol.kg-1.min-1) and exercise (23 +/- 4 vs. 36 +/- 6 mumol.kg-1.min-1 at 150 min) in LO vs. NO, but arterial glucose was unchanged because hepatic glucose production was increased similarly. Limb glucose and pyruvate oxidation (derived from vein [14C]lactate specific activity) rates were elevated about twofold during rest and exercise in LO vs. NO. Estimated limb glycogenolysis increased at rest (21 +/- 9 vs. 96 +/- 23 mumol/min) and during exercise (70 +/- 21 vs. 184 +/- 41 mumol/min at 150 min) in LO vs. NO. The %CO2 and %lactate from glucose in LO were about twofold the values in NO in rest and exercise. The %CO2 from pyruvate was greater and free fatty acid levels were lower, suggesting reduced fat metabolism in LO. Arterial lactate and pyruvate levels were elevated during rest and the initial 30 min of exercise, even though net limb outputs were no greater. Lactate-to-pyruvate ratios and pH were similar in LO and NO during exercise.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carbohydrate metabolism during exercise: influence of circulating fat availability.

To examine the role of circulating fat in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism, dogs were studied during rest and 90 min of moderate treadmill exercise with nicotinic acid infused to suppress lipolysis with (+Fat; n = 5) or without (-Fat; n = 5) Intralipid. Isotopic and hindlimb arteriovenous methods were used to assess metabolism. Plasma glucose was similar in both protocols during rest and exercise. Differences in insulin, catecholamines, and cortisol between groups were insignificant. Glucagon was approximately 50% greater during rest and exercise in -Fat. The following values represent those at 30 or 40 min of muscular work because peak responses were seen at these times. Arterial free fatty acid levels were 1,129 +/- 253 and 272 +/- 17 mu eq/l at rest and 756 +/- 145 and 269 +/- 51 mu eq/l with exercise in +Fat and -Fat, respectively. Glucose production was 4.2 +/- 0.3 and 5.0 +/- 0.4 mg.kg-1.min-1 at rest and 8.5 +/- 1.3 and 11.4 +/- 0.6 mg.kg-1.min-1 with exercise in +Fat and -Fat, respectively. Glucose utilization was 4.3 +/- 0.3 and 5.3 +/- 0.2 mg.kg-1.min-1 at rest and 9.2 +/- 1.2 and 12.7 +/- 0.8 mg.kg-1.min-1 with exercise in +Fat and -Fat, respectively. Significant glucose flux differences were present during rest and exercise. Limb glucose uptake rose similarly with exercise in +Fat (29 +/- 7 to 82 +/- 22 mumol/min) and -Fat (28 +/- 7 to 88 +/- 16 mumol/min). Arterial blood lactate was 50-100% greater in -Fat compared with that in +Fat.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Contribution of pancreatic hormone responses to the elevation in carbohydrate metabolism with reduced PaO2.

Reduced O2 availability, as might occur under some physiological and pathological conditions, stimulates insulin and glucagon release and increases glucose fluxes and muscle carbohydrate metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine the role of reduced PO2, independent of changes in glucagon and insulin. In six dogs, in paired studies separated by 2 wk, glucagon and insulin levels were fixed throughout by infusion of somatostatin with basal intraportal glucagon and insulin replacement. A control period was followed by 90 min of breathing 21% (NO) or 8% (LO) O2. Isotopic and arteriovenous methods were used to assess carbohydrate metabolism. Measured variables were constant over time in NO. Arterial PO2 (Pao2) was approximately 100 mmHg in NO and approximately 30 mmHg in LO, resulting in a 50% fall in O2 content. Insulin, glucagon, and catecholamine levels were similar in NO and LO. Cortisol was significantly increased in LO. Arterial glucose was unchanged in both groups. In the last 45 min of the experimental period in LO, 1) glucose production (14 +/- 1 to 18 +/- 1 mumol.kg-1.min-1), glucose disappearance (15 +/- 1 to 17 +/- 1 mumol.kg-1.min-1), and net hepatic glucose output (11 +/- 1 to 15 +/- 1 mumol.kg-1.min-1) rose, 2) limb pyruvate oxidation (11 +/- 2 to 24 +/- 5 mumol/min) and estimated glycogenolysis (9 +/- 3 to 42 +/- 9 mumol/min) increased, 3) percentages of CO2 from limb pyruvate and glucose increased, and percentage of lactate from blood glucose decreased, and 4) arterial blood lactate was approximately 100% more, although net limb and hepatic lactate balances were unaltered, which suggests that neither liver nor muscle is the source of increased blood lactate. Comparison of these results with our previous study [Zinker et al. Am. J. Physiol. 266 (Endocrinol. Metab. 29): E921-E929, 1994] shows that the response to reduced PaO2, although present, is reduced when glucagon and insulin levels are fixed at basal. The majority of stimulation of glucose production by decreased PaO2 is still present when pancreatic hormones are clamped at basal, while the response by the hindlimb tissues is greatly reduced.

Acute adaptation of carbohydrate metabolism to decreased arterial PO2.

To assess the interaction of arterial PO2 (PaO2) and glucose metabolism, conscious 18-h-fasted dogs with chronically implanted sampling catheters (carotid artery, iliac vein) and flow probe (external iliac artery) were studied during inspiration of air containing 21 (n = 9), 14 (n = 6), 11 (n = 4), or 8% (n = 5) O2. Isotopic and arteriovenous methods were used to assess carbohydrate metabolism. PaO2 was 103 +/- 3, 64 +/- 4, 45 +/- 4, and 30 +/- 1 mmHg with decreased inspired O2. Although limb O2 delivery was reduced (51 +/- 6, 42 +/- 8, 39 +/- 7, and 34 +/- 5 ml/min), limb O2 uptake was not compromised. Plasma insulin was 9 +/- 1, 8 +/- 2, 14 +/- 2, and 16 +/- 3 microU/ml, and glucagon was 53 +/- 3, 49 +/- 3, 64 +/- 5, and 101 +/- 7 pg/ml with decreasing O2. Plasma epinephrine and cortisol were increased whereas norepinephrine was unaffected. Glycemia was unaffected by reduced O2, whereas hepatic glucose output (14 +/- 1, 19 +/- 3, 21 +/- 1, and 22 +/- 1 mumol.kg-1.min-1) and glucose disappearance (14 +/- 2, 18 +/- 3, 20 +/- 1, and 22 +/- 2 mumol.kg-1.min-1) rose similarly. Limb glucose uptake (LGU) rose (21.5 +/- 4.7, 21.2 +/- 5.6, 30.6 +/- 4.7, and 45.3 +/- 9.7 mumol/min) with decreasing O2 because of greater fractional extraction (0.023 +/- 0.005, 0.024 +/- 0.005, 0.031 +/- 0.004, and 0.043 +/- 0.004). Of the increased LGU, approximately 33 and 67% were metabolized oxidatively and nonoxidatively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Exercise-induced fall in insulin: mechanism of action at the liver and effects on muscle glucose metabolism.

To determine the importance of the fall in insulin on whole body glucose fluxes and muscle glucose metabolism during exercise, dogs ran on a motorized treadmill for 90 min at a moderate work rate with somatostatin (SRIF) infused to suppress insulin and glucagon and basal (B-INS; n = 6 dogs) or exercise-stimulated (S-INS; n = 8 dogs) insulin replacement. The fall in insulin during exercise potently stimulates glucose production at least in part by potentiating the actions of glucagon. To assess the hepatic effects of insulin in the absence of its potentiating effect on glucagon action, glucagon levels were not restored during SRIF infusion. At least 17 days before experimentation, dogs underwent surgery for chronic placement of sampling (carotid artery and femoral vein) and infusion (inferior vena cava and portal vein) catheters. Hindlimb blood flow was assessed by placement of a Doppler flow cuff on the external iliac artery. Whole body glucose production (Ra) and disappearance (Rd) were assessed with [3-3H]glucose, and hindlimb glucose uptake and metabolism were assessed with arterial-venous differences and [U-14C]glucose. Insulin levels were 69 +/- 6 and 61 +/- 7 pM at rest in B-INS and S-INS and 62 +/- 10 and 41 +/- 6 pM at 30 min of exercise. Glucose levels were clamped at euglycemic levels with an exogenous glucose infusion during rest and exercise in both groups. Exercise-induced increases in Ra, Rd, hindlimb glucose uptake, and hindlimb oxidative and nonoxidative glucose metabolism were not affected by maintenance of basil insulin levels during exercise.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Augmented glucoregulatory hormone concentrations during exhausting exercise in mildly iron-deficient rats.

We hypothesized that augmented responses of glucoregulatory hormones in iron deficiency would enhance liver and muscle glycogenolysis, leading to increased gluconeogenic precursor (lactate) supply and upregulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis. Female weanling rats were randomly placed on either a mildly iron-deficient (-Fe; 15 mg Fe/kg diet) or an iron-sufficient (+Fe; 50 mg Fe/kg diet) diet for 4 wk and studied at rest and during exhaustive treadmill running. Hemoglobin was 9.0 +/- 0.2 and 13.1 +/- 0.3 g/dl in -Fe and +Fe, respectively, after 3.5 wk of dietary iron deficiency. Arterial plasma epinephrine (Epi), norepinephrine (NE), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone, insulin, and glucagon levels were similar at rest in both groups, as were liver, gastrocnemius, and superficial and deep vastus medialis glycogen levels. Liver and kidney phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activities were similar in both groups. Maximum O2 consumption was decreased (22%) in -Fe. Respiratory exchange ratio (CO2 production/O2 consumption) was unaffected at rest but increased at maximum O2 consumption in -Fe. Time to exhaustion during a standardized running test (13.4 m/min, 0% grade) was decreased 45% in -Fe (63 +/- 5 vs. 116 +/- 10 min). During exercise, euglycemia was maintained in both groups, but blood lactate was elevated in -Fe. The mean net glycogen utilization during exercise was increased in liver (43%), soleus (33%), and superficial vastus medialis (106%) and decreased in the gastrocnemius (36%) in -Fe. Liver and kidney PEPCK activities were increased similarly at exhaustion in both groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regulation of glucose uptake and metabolism by working muscle. An in vivo analysis.

To assess the mechanisms whereby muscular work stimulates glucose uptake and metabolism in vivo, dogs were studied during rest (-40-0 min), moderate exercise (0-90 min), and exercise recovery (90-180 min) with plasma glucose clamped at 5.0, 6.7, 8.3, and 10.0 mM (n = 5 at 5.0 mM and n = 4 at all other levels) using a variable glucose infusion. Basal insulin was maintained with somatostatin and insulin replacement. Whole-body glucose uptake, limb glucose uptake, and oxidative and nonoxidative glucose plus lactate metabolism, were assessed with tracers ([3H]glucose and [14C]glucose) and arteriovenous differences. The combined effects of glucose and exercise on the increment above resting values for limb glucose uptake, arteriovenous glucose difference, LGO, LGNO, and rate of glucose disappearance were synergistic (approximately 112, 90, 125, 76, and 90% greater than the additive values, respectively). Neither exercise nor recovery affected the Km for limb glucose uptake (4.7 +/- 1.1, 4.8 +/- 0.4, and 5.2 +/- 0.3 mM during rest, exercise, and recovery, respectively), but both conditions increased the Vmax (44 +/- 16, 217 +/- 30, and 118 +/- 14 mumol/min during rest, exercise, and recovery, respectively). Similarly, the Km for arteriovenous glucose differences were unaffected by exercise recovery (4.9 +/- 0.6, 5.0 +/- 0.4, and 5.3 +/- 0.3 mM during rest, exercise, and recovery, respectively), but the maximum rose (272 +/- 50, 650 +/- 78, and 822 +/- 111 microM during rest, exercise, and recovery, respectively). The LGO was unchanged by glycemia at rest (15 +/- 4 mumol/min at 10.0 mM). The Km for LGO during exercise was 5.1 +/- 0.3 mM, and the Vmax was 163 +/- 15. The capacity for LGO returned to basal during recovery. LGNO increased gradually with increasing glycemia during rest, exercise, and recovery and did not approach saturation (38 +/- 13, 105 +/- 36, and 132 +/- 45 mumol/min during rest, exercise, and recovery, respectively, at 10.0 mM). In general, the LGNO was elevated at every glucose level during exercise (approximately twofold) and recovery (approximately threefold) compared with rest. Arterial free fatty acid and glycerol levels decreased with increasing glycemia within all periods. Free fatty acids were suppressed by a greater amount during exercise compared with rest and recovery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Role of glucose and insulin loads to the exercising limb in increasing glucose uptake and metabolism.

To assess the contributions of glucose load to the working hindlimb and local contraction-related events (changes related to the microvasculature and/or intrinsic muscle metabolic properties) to the exercise-induced increases in muscle glucose uptake and metabolism in vivo, dogs were studied with somatostatin infused to suppress insulin release, and glucose and insulin were replaced 1) during rest and treadmill exercise at rates that recreate limb glucose and insulin loads evident during exercise (n = 5), 2) at rest to selectively normalize the limb glucose load to rates present during exercise while retaining basal limb insulin loads (GL, n = 5), or 3) at rest to normalize both the limb glucose and insulin loads to those present during exercise (IGL, n = 5). Limb arteriovenous difference and isotopic ([U-14C]glucose) techniques were used to quantify muscle glucose uptake and metabolism. Limb glucose load rose from 819 +/- 141 mumol/min in the basal state to 1,568 +/- 190 mumol/min with exercise. Limb glucose loads were 1,423 +/- 88 and 1,502 +/- 165 mumol/min in GL and IGL. The limb insulin load rose from basal rates of 12.9 +/- 2.3 to 22.9 +/- 5.9 nmol/min during exercise. Limb insulin loads were similar to basal loads in GL (8.8 +/- 1.9 nmol/min) and exercise in IGL (28.2 +/- 5.5 nmol/min).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of swimming on prednisolone-induced osteoporosis in elderly rats.

We investigated the possible ameliorating and preventive effect of swimming on prednisolone-induced osteoporosis in elderly rats. A total of 48 female Sabra strain rats were randomly assigned to the following groups and treatments: (1) control (C), (2) swimming (S), (3) prednisolone-treated (CP), and (4) swimming + prednisolone (SP). An additional 8 rats were sacrificed and examined at the onset of the study. Groups C and S were sham injected; groups CP and SP were injected with prednisolone (Ultracorten), 80 mg/kg three times per week for 10 weeks. Groups S and SP swam 1 h daily, 5 days per week for 10 weeks. SP rats swam simultaneously with prednisolone administration. At the end of the swimming period, in vivo bone mineral content (BMC) measurements were performed on rat vertebrae L4-5 by single-photon absorptiometry. Later, the humerus and femur were removed for the following measurements: morphometric, bone density (BD) by Compton scattering technique, bone ion content by atomic absorption, and hydration fraction by proton magnetic resonance (PMR). We found that the humeral BD of S rats was greater by 14% for group S over C and 3% greater for group SP over CP (P less than 0.05). Vertebral BMC was higher by 15% in group S over C and 11% higher for group SP over CP (P less than 0.05). Femoral calcium (mg/g dry bone) ion content was higher by 5% in group S over C and 8% in group SP over CP group (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of a 36-hour fast on human endurance and substrate utilization.

To determine if prolonged fasting affects substrate utilization and endurance time, seven trained men exercised to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer at 50% maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) in an overnight-fasted [postabsorptive (PA)] state and after a 36-h fast (F). Fasting produced significant elevations in the resting concentrations of blood free fatty acids (FFA; 1.16 +/- 0.05 vs. 0.56 +/- 0.06 mM, F vs. PA, respectively, a 107% increase), beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-OH, 2.06 +/- 0.66 vs. 0.15 +/- 0.06 mM, a 1,270% increase), and glycerol (0.12 +/- 0.03 vs. 0.04 +/- 0.01 mM, a 200% increase), with a significant decline in glucose (79.79 +/- 2.12 vs. 98.88 +/- 3.11 mg/dl, a 19% decrease). Exercise in the F trial increased FFA, decreased glucose, and significantly elevated beta-OH and glycerol over the PA trial. There was no difference in blood glucose concentration between trials at exhaustion. However, F produced a significant decrement in exercise endurance time compared with the PA trial (88.9 +/- 18.3 vs. 144.4 +/- 22.6 min, F vs. PA, a 38% decrease). Based on the respiratory exchange ratio, fasting led to a greater utilization of lipids during rest and exercise. It was concluded that 1) a 36-h fast significantly altered substrate utilization at rest and throughout exercise to exhaustion, 2) glucose levels do not appear to be the single determinant of time to exhaustion in submaximal exercise, and 3) despite the apparent sparing of carbohydrate utilization with the 36-h fast, endurance performance was significantly decreased.