The impact of exercise intensity on whole body and adipose tissue metabolism during energy restriction in sedentary overweight men and postmenopausal women

• Published in: Physiological reports Vol. 4; no. 24; pp. np - n/a
• Main Authors: Walhin, Jean‐Philippe, Dixon, Natalie C., Betts, James A., Thompson, Dylan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-12-2016; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Adipose Tissue and Obesity; Blood Glucose; Body fat; Body mass; Body weight; Cardiovascular disease; Diet; Endurance and Performance; Energy; Energy expenditure; Energy Intake; Energy Metabolism; energy restriction; Exercise; Exercise intensity; Female; Fitness equipment; Gene Expression; Glucose tolerance; Humans; Insulin; Insulin - blood; Lipase; Male; Menopause; Metabolism; Metabolism and Regulation; Middle Aged; Nutrition research; Obesity; Original Research; Overweight; Overweight - genetics; Overweight - metabolism; Overweight - prevention & control; Physical fitness; Physiology; Post-menopause; Postmenopause - metabolism; Questionnaires; Reproductive Physiology; Sedentary Behavior; Software; Sterol regulatory element-binding protein; Studies; Thermogenesis; Weight control; Whole Body Imaging; Womens health; United Kingdom > UK; exercise intensity; metabolism; Adipose tissue; energy restriction; gene expression
• DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13026
• EISSN: 2051-817X

This study aimed to establish whether vigorous‐intensity exercise offers additional adipose‐related health benefits and metabolic improvements compared to energy‐matched moderate‐intensity exercise. Thirty‐eight sedentary overweight men (n = 24) and postmenopausal women (n = 14) aged 52 ± 5 years (mean ± standard deviations [SD]) were prescribed a 3‐week energy deficit (29302 kJ∙week−1) achieved by increased isocaloric moderate or vigorous‐intensity exercise (+8372 kJ∙week−1) and simultaneous restricted energy intake (−20930 kJ∙week−1). Participants were randomly assigned to either an energy‐matched vigorous (VIG; n = 18) or moderate (MOD; n = 20) intensity exercise group (five times per week at 70% or 50% maximal oxygen uptake, respectively). At baseline and follow‐up, fasted blood samples and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies were obtained and oral glucose tolerance tests conducted. Body mass was reduced similarly in both groups (∆ 2.4 ± 1.1 kg and ∆ 2.4 ± 1.4 kg, respectively, P < 0.05). Insulinemic responses to a standard glucose load decreased similarly at follow‐up relative to baseline in VIG (∆ 8.6 ± 15.4 nmol.120 min.l−1) and MOD (∆ 5.4 ± 8.5 nmol.120 min.l−1; P < 0.05). Expression of SREBP‐1c and FAS in adipose tissue was significantly down‐regulated, whereas expression of PDK4 and hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL) was significantly up‐regulated in both groups (P < 0.05). Thus, when energy expenditure and energy deficit are matched, vigorous or moderate‐intensity exercise combined with energy restriction provide broadly similar (positive) changes in metabolic control and adipose tissue gene expression.
This experiment shows that short‐term energy restriction combined with either vigorous or moderate‐intensity physical exercise improves insulin sensitivity, lipid profiles, and markers of inflammation in sedentary, overweight men and post‐menopausal women. The benefits reported at the systemic level were also clear within the adipose tissue as the expression of several key genes was positively impacted postintervention. The benefits of increased physical exercise combined with energy restriction are mostly independent of exercise intensity.