Impact of an exercise program on acylcarnitines in obesity: a prospective controlled study

• Published in: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition Vol. 9; no. 1; p. 22
• Main Authors: Rodríguez-Gutiérrez, René, Lavalle-González, Fernando J, Martínez-Garza, Laura E, Landeros-Olvera, Erick, López-Alvarenga, Juan C, Torres-Sepúlveda, Maria R, González-González, Jose G, Mancillas-Adame, Leonardo G, Salazar-Gonzalez, Bertha, Villarreal-Pérez, Jesus Z
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 10.05.2012; BioMed Central Ltd; Taylor & Francis Ltd; Taylor & Francis Group
• Subjects: Aerobic exercise; Beta-oxidation; Body mass index; Carnitine; Clinical Nutrition; Complications and side effects; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Exercise; Fatty acids; Insulin resistance; Lipotoxicity; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Obesity; Overweight; Pancreatic beta cells; Physiological aspects; Research Article; Risk factors; Sports Medicine; Studies; Type 2 diabetes; Weight control; United States; Obesity; Beta-oxidation; Lipotoxicity; Diabetes mellitus; Aerobic exercise; Overweight
• ISSN: 1550-2783; 1550-2783
• DOI: 10.1186/1550-2783-9-22

Background Acylcarnitine (AC) transport dysfunction into the mitochondrial matrix is one of the pathophysiological mechanisms of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The effect of an aerobic exercise (AE) program on this condition in obese subjects without DM is unclear. Methods A prospective, randomized, longitudinal, interventional study in a University Research Center involved a 10-week AE program in 32 women without DM and a body mass index (BMI) greater than 27 kg/m 2 . (Cases n = 17; Controls n = 15). The primary objective was to evaluate the influence of a controlled AE program on beta-oxidation according to modifications in short, medium, and long-chain ACs. Secondary objectives were to define the behavior of amino acids, and the correlation between these modifications with metabolic and anthropometric markers. Results The proportion of dropouts was 17% and 6% in controls and cases, respectively. In cases there was a significant reduction in total carnitine (30.40 [95% CI 28.2 to 35.6]) vs. (29.4 [CI 95% 25.1 to 31.7]) p =  0.0008 and long-chain AC C14 (0.06 [95% CI 0.05 to 0.08]) vs. (0.05 [95% CI 0.05 to 0.09]) p =  0.005 and in C18 (0.31 [95% CI 0.27 to 0.45]) vs. (0.28 [95% CI 0.22 to 0.32]) p =  0.03. Free fatty acid levels remained without change during the study in both groups. Conclusion In conclusion, a controlled 10-week AE program improved beta-oxidation by reducing long-chain ACs. This finding highlights the importance that AE might have in avoiding or reverting lipotoxicity, and in consequence, improving insulin sensitivity and pancreatic beta cell functional reserve.