Plasma free fatty acids in exercise

Abstract

The effects of exercise of different intensity and duration on plasma free fatty acids (FFA), blood glucose, and lactate were investigated in eight healthy young men. In heavy 10-min work the blood lactate rose rapidly and the FFA decreased. Blood sugar showed no marked change. Intermittent work caused a slight increase in blood lactate and no change in blood glucose. The FFA remained essentially unchanged but increased in three out of four subjects during recovery. In moderate 1-hr work the FFA remained essentially unchanged, but increased markedly during recovery when blood lactate had returned to resting levels. In prolonged exhausting work in fasting subjects, the blood lactate remained almost unchanged, while the FFA rose steadily and the blood sugar dropped. In nonfasting subjects the FFA also rose, but the ingestion of lunch caused, in all cases, a striking drop in the FFA, associated with a rise in blood sugar. Combined hormonal effects (insulin and norepinephrine) brought into play during exercise of different intensity and duration may well explain the apparent discrepancy in the results of different investigators concerning the effect of exercise on plasma FFA. work and FFA; FFA at different workloads; lipid metabolism in work Submitted on November 6, 1963