An acute increase in skeletal muscle carnitine content alters fuel metabolism
in resting human skeletal muscle.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006; 91(12):5013-8 (ISSN: 0021-972X)
Stephens FB; Constantin-Teodosiu D; Laithwaite D; Simpson EJ; Greenhaff PL
Centre for Integrated Systems Biology and Medicine, University of Nottingham
Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom.
[email protected]
CONTEXT: Carnitine plays an essential role in the integration of fat and
carbohydrate oxidation in skeletal muscle, which is impaired in obesity and
type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the
effect of an increase in skeletal muscle total carnitine (TC) content on muscle
fuel metabolism. DESIGN: A 5-h iv infusion of saline (control) or l-carnitine
was administered while serum insulin was maintained at a physiologically high
concentration during two randomized visits. PARTICIPANTS: Seven healthy,
nonvegetarian young men (body mass index, 26.1 +/- 1.6 kg/m2) participated in
the present study at the University of Nottingham. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Skeletal muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) activity and associated
muscle metabolites were measured. RESULTS: The combination of hypercarnitinemia
(600 micromol/liter) and hyperinsulinemia (160 mU/liter) increased muscle TC
content by 15% (P < 0.01) and was associated with decreased pyruvate
dehydrogenase complex activity (P < 0.05) and muscle lactate content (P < 0.05)
by 30 and 40%, respectively, and an overnight increase in muscle glycogen (P <
0.01) and long-chain acyl-coenzyme A content (P < 0.05) by 30 and 40%,
respectively, compared with control. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that an
acute increase in human skeletal muscle TC content results in an inhibition of
carbohydrate oxidation in conditions of high carbohydrate availability,
possibly due to a carnitine-mediated increase in fat oxidation. These novel
findings may have important implications for our understanding of the
regulation of muscle fat oxidation, particularly during exercise, when
carnitine availability may limit fat oxidation, and in obesity and type 2
diabetes where it is known to be impaired.
in resting human skeletal muscle.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006; 91(12):5013-8 (ISSN: 0021-972X)
Stephens FB; Constantin-Teodosiu D; Laithwaite D; Simpson EJ; Greenhaff PL
Centre for Integrated Systems Biology and Medicine, University of Nottingham
Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom.
[email protected]
CONTEXT: Carnitine plays an essential role in the integration of fat and
carbohydrate oxidation in skeletal muscle, which is impaired in obesity and
type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the
effect of an increase in skeletal muscle total carnitine (TC) content on muscle
fuel metabolism. DESIGN: A 5-h iv infusion of saline (control) or l-carnitine
was administered while serum insulin was maintained at a physiologically high
concentration during two randomized visits. PARTICIPANTS: Seven healthy,
nonvegetarian young men (body mass index, 26.1 +/- 1.6 kg/m2) participated in
the present study at the University of Nottingham. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Skeletal muscle pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) activity and associated
muscle metabolites were measured. RESULTS: The combination of hypercarnitinemia
(600 micromol/liter) and hyperinsulinemia (160 mU/liter) increased muscle TC
content by 15% (P < 0.01) and was associated with decreased pyruvate
dehydrogenase complex activity (P < 0.05) and muscle lactate content (P < 0.05)
by 30 and 40%, respectively, and an overnight increase in muscle glycogen (P <
0.01) and long-chain acyl-coenzyme A content (P < 0.05) by 30 and 40%,
respectively, compared with control. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that an
acute increase in human skeletal muscle TC content results in an inhibition of
carbohydrate oxidation in conditions of high carbohydrate availability,
possibly due to a carnitine-mediated increase in fat oxidation. These novel
findings may have important implications for our understanding of the
regulation of muscle fat oxidation, particularly during exercise, when
carnitine availability may limit fat oxidation, and in obesity and type 2
diabetes where it is known to be impaired.
"Wszystko jedno gdzie się żyje,
Raz się chudnie, raz się tyje..." 
Krzysztof Piekarz
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