Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Persons with Obesity and Knee Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Weight reduction has been shown to alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee, including pain. The effect of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists on outcomes in knee osteoarthritis among persons with obesity has not been well studied. METHODS: We conducted a 68-week, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial at 61 sites in 11 countries. Participants with obesity (a body-mass index [BMI; the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters] of ≥30) and a clinical and radiologic diagnosis of moderate knee osteoarthritis with at least moderate pain were randomly assigned, in a 2:1 ratio, to receive once-weekly subcutaneous semaglutide (2.4 mg) or placebo, in addition to counseling on physical activity and a reduced-calorie diet. The primary end points were the percentage change in body weight and the change in the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain score (on a scale of 0 to 100, with higher scores reflecting worse outcomes) from baseline to week 68. A key confirmatory secondary end point was the physical-function score on the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), version 2 (on a scale of 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater well-being). RESULTS: A total of 407 participants were enrolled. The mean age was 56 years, the mean BMI 40.3, and the mean WOMAC pain score 70.9. A total of 81.6% of the participants were women. The mean change in body weight from baseline to week 68 was -13.7% with semaglutide and -3.2% with placebo (P<0.001). The mean change in the WOMAC pain score at week 68 was -41.7 points with semaglutide and -27.5 points with placebo (P<0.001). Participants in the semaglutide group had a greater improvement in SF-36 physical-function score than those in the placebo group (mean change, 12.0 points vs. 6.5 points; P<0.001). The incidence of serious adverse events was similar in the two groups. Adverse events that led to permanent discontinuation of the trial regimen occurred in 6.7% of the participants in the semaglutide group and in 3.0% in the placebo group, with gastrointestinal disorders being the most common reason for discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: Among participants with obesity and knee osteoarthritis with moderate-to-severe pain, treatment with once-weekly injectable semaglutide resulted in significantly greater reductions in body weight and pain related to knee osteoarthritis than placebo. (Funded by Novo Nordisk; STEP 9 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05064735.).

Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation in Statin Treated Patients: A Double-Blinded Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Myalgia and new-onset of type 2 diabetes have been associated with statin treatment, which both could be linked to reduced coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in skeletal muscle and impaired mitochondrial function. Supplementation with CoQ10 focusing on levels of CoQ10 in skeletal muscle and mitochondrial function has not been investigated in patients treated with statins. To investigate whether concomitant administration of CoQ10 with statins increases the muscle CoQ10 levels and improves the mitochondrial function, and if changes in muscle CoQ10 levels correlate with changes in the intensity of myalgia. 37 men and women in simvastatin therapy with and without myalgia were randomized to receive 400 mg CoQ10 daily or matched placebo tablets for eight weeks. Muscle CoQ10 levels, mitochondrial respiratory capacity, mitochondrial content (using citrate synthase activity as a biomarker), and production of reactive oxygen species were measured before and after CoQ10 supplementation, and intensity of myalgia was determined using the 10 cm visual analogue scale. Muscle CoQ10 content and mitochondrial function were unaltered by CoQ10 supplementation. Individual changes in muscle CoQ10 levels were not correlated with changes in intensity of myalgia. CoQ10 supplementation had no effect on muscle CoQ10 levels or mitochondrial function and did not affect symptoms of myalgia.

Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Suppresses Hepatic Production of the Ghrelin Receptor Antagonist LEAP2.

INTRODUCTION: Liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide-2 (LEAP2) is an endogenous ghrelin receptor antagonist, which is upregulated in the fed state and downregulated during fasting. We hypothesized that the ketone body beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) is involved in the downregulation of LEAP2 during conditions with high circulating levels of BHB. METHODS: Hepatic and intestinal Leap2 expression were determined in 3 groups of mice with increasing circulating levels of BHB: prolonged fasting, prolonged ketogenic diet, and oral BHB treatment. LEAP2 levels were measured in lean and obese individuals, in human individuals following endurance exercise, and in mice after BHB treatment. Lastly, we investigated Leap2 expression in isolated murine hepatocytes challenged with BHB. RESULTS: We confirmed increased circulating LEAP2 levels in individuals with obesity compared to lean individuals. The recovery period after endurance exercise was associated with increased plasma levels of BHB levels and decreased LEAP2 levels in humans. Leap2 expression was selectively decreased in the liver after fasting and after exposure to a ketogenic diet for 3 weeks. Importantly, we found that oral administration of BHB increased circulating levels of BHB in mice and decreased Leap2 expression levels and circulating LEAP2 plasma levels, as did Leap2 expression after direct exposure to BHB in isolated murine hepatocytes. CONCLUSION: From our data, we suggest that LEAP2 is downregulated during different states of energy deprivation in both humans and rodents. Furthermore, we here provide evidence that the ketone body, BHB, which is highly upregulated during fasting metabolism, directly downregulates LEAP2 levels. This may be relevant in ghrelin receptor-induced hunger signaling during energy deprivation.

Reliability and variation in mitochondrial respiration in human adipose tissue.

Adipose tissue mitochondrial function is gaining increasing interest since it is a good marker of overall health. Methodological challenges and variability in assessing mitochondrial respiration in fresh adipose tissue with high-resolution respirometry are unknown and should be explored. Mitochondrial respiratory capacity (MRC) in human adipose tissue declines in a gradual manner when analyses are postponed 3 h and 24 h, with a statistically significant decline 24 h after obtaining the biopsy. This decline in MRC is associated with a reduced integrity of the outer mitochondrial membrane at both time points. This study suggests that the optimal amount of tissue to be used is 20 mg and that different technicians handling the biopsy do not affect MRC.

Acute erythropoietin injection increases muscle mitochondrial respiratory capacity in young men: a double-blinded randomized crossover trial.

The aim was to investigate if acute recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) injection had an effect on mitochondrial function and if exercise would have an additive effect. Furthermore, to investigate if in vitro incubation with rHuEPO had an effect on muscle mitochondrial respiratory capacity. Eight healthy young men were recruited for this double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled crossover study. rHuEPO (400 IU/kg body wt) or saline injection was given intravenously, before an acute bout of exercise. Resting metabolic rate and fat oxidation were measured. Biopsies were obtained at baseline, 120 min after injection, and right after the acute exercise bout. Mitochondrial function (mitochondrial respiration and H2O2 emission) was measured in permeabilized skeletal muscle using high-resolution respirometry and fluorometry. Specific gene expression and enzyme activity were measured. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiratory capacity was measured with and without incubation with rHuEPO. Fat oxidation at rest increased after rHuEPO injection, but no difference was found in fat oxidation during exercise. Mitochondrial respiratory capacity was increased after rHuEPO injection when pyruvate was in the assay, which was not the case when saline was injected. No changes were seen in H2O2 emission after rHuEPO injection or acute exercise. Incubation of skeletal muscle fibers in vitro with rHuEPO increased mitochondrial respiratory capacity. Acute rHuEPO injection increased mitochondrial respiratory capacity when pyruvate was used in the assay. No statistical difference was found in H2O2 emission capacity, although a numerical increase was seen after rHuEPO injection. In vitro incubation of the skeletal muscle sample with rHuEPO increases mitochondrial respiratory capacity.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The effect of an acute rHuEPO injection on skeletal muscle mitochondrial function was investigated in young healthy male subjects. rHuEPO has an acute effect on skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiratory capacity in humans, where an increased mitochondrial respiratory capacity was seen. This could be the first step leading to increased mitochondrial biogenesis.

The effects of 3 weeks of oral glutathione supplementation on whole body insulin sensitivity in obese males with and without type 2 diabetes: a randomized trial.

The effect of oral glutathione (GSH) supplementation was studied in obese subjects with and without type 2 diabetes (T2DM) on measures of glucose homeostasis and markers of oxidative stress. Twenty subjects (10 patients with T2DM and 10 obese subjects) were recruited for the study, and randomized in a double-blinded placebo-controlled manner to consume either 1000 mg GSH per day or placebo for 3 weeks. Before and after the 3 weeks insulin sensitivity was measured with the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and a muscle biopsy was obtained to measure GSH and skeletal muscle mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) emission rate. Whole body insulin sensitivity increased significantly in the GSH group. Skeletal muscle GSH was numerically increased (∼19%) in the GSH group; no change was seen in GSH to glutathione disulfide ratio. Skeletal muscle mitochondrial H2O2 emission rate did not change in response to the intervention and neither did the urinary excretion of the RNA oxidation product 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine or the DNA oxidation product 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), although 8-oxodG decreased as a main effect of time. Oral GSH supplementation improves insulin sensitivity in obese subjects with and without T2DM, although it does not alter markers of oxidative stress. The study has been registered in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02948673). Novelty: Reduced glutathione supplementation increases insulin sensitivity in obese subjects with and without T2DM. H2O2 emission rate from skeletal muscle mitochondria was not affected by GSH supplementation.

Pharmacological but not physiological GDF15 suppresses feeding and the motivation to exercise.

Growing evidence supports that pharmacological application of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) suppresses appetite but also promotes sickness-like behaviors in rodents via GDNF family receptor α-like (GFRAL)-dependent mechanisms. Conversely, the endogenous regulation of GDF15 and its physiological effects on energy homeostasis and behavior remain elusive. Here we show, in four independent human studies that prolonged endurance exercise increases circulating GDF15 to levels otherwise only observed in pathophysiological conditions. This exercise-induced increase can be recapitulated in mice and is accompanied by increased Gdf15 expression in the liver, skeletal muscle, and heart muscle. However, whereas pharmacological GDF15 inhibits appetite and suppresses voluntary running activity via GFRAL, the physiological induction of GDF15 by exercise does not. In summary, exercise-induced circulating GDF15 correlates with the duration of endurance exercise. Yet, higher GDF15 levels after exercise are not sufficient to evoke canonical pharmacological GDF15 effects on appetite or responsible for diminishing exercise motivation.

Plasma Metabolome Profiling of Resistance Exercise and Endurance Exercise in Humans.

The mechanisms by which exercise benefits human health remain incompletely understood. With the emergence of omics techniques, mapping of the molecular response to exercise is increasingly accessible. Here, we perform an untargeted metabolomics profiling of plasma from a randomized, within-subjects, crossover study of either endurance exercise or resistance exercise, two types of skeletal muscle activity that have differential effects on human physiology. A high-resolution time-series analyses reveal shared as well as exercise-mode-specific perturbations in a multitude of metabolic pathways. Moreover, the analyses reveal exercise-induced changes in metabolites that are recognized to act as signaling molecules. Thus, we provide a metabolomic signature of how dissimilar modes of exercise affect the organism in a time-resolved fashion.

Simvastatin improves mitochondrial respiration in peripheral blood cells.

Statins are prescribed to treat hypercholesterolemia and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, statin users frequently report myalgia, which can discourage physical activity or cause patients to discontinue statin use, negating the potential benefit of the treatment. Although a proposed mechanism responsible for Statin-Associated Myopathy (SAM) suggests a correlation with impairment of mitochondrial function, the relationship is still poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence that long-term treatment of hypercholesterolemic patients with Simvastatin at a therapeutic dose significantly display increased mitochondrial respiration in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and platelets compared to untreated controls. Furthermore, the amount of superoxide is higher in mitochondria in PBMCs, and platelets from Simvastatin-treated patients than in untreated controls, and the abundance of mitochondrial superoxide, but not mitochondrial respiration trends with patient-reported myalgia. Ubiquinone (also known as coenzyme Q10) has been suggested as a potential treatment for SAM; however, an 8-week course of oral ubiquinone had no impact on mitochondrial functions or the abundance of superoxide in mitochondria from PBMCs, and platelets. These results demonstrate that long-term treatment with Simvastatin increases respiration and the production of superoxide in mitochondria of PBMCs and platelets.

The unidentified hormonal defense against weight gain.

Human biology has evolved to keep body fat within a range that supports survival. During the last 25 years, obesity biologists have uncovered key aspects of physiology that prevent fat mass from becoming too low. In contrast, the mechanisms that counteract excessive adipose expansion are largely unknown. Evidence dating back to the 1950s suggests the existence of a blood-borne molecule that defends against weight gain. In this article, we discuss the research supporting an "unidentified factor of overfeeding" and models that explain its role in body weight control. If it exists, revealing the identity of this factor could end a long-lasting enigma of energy balance regulation and facilitate a much-needed breakthrough in the pharmacological treatment of obesity.

Aerobic Exercise Performance and Muscle Strength in Statin Users-The LIFESTAT Study.

INTRODUCTION: Statins are widely used in both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The treatment increases the risk of muscle pain (myalgia) which can affect muscle function and levels of physical activity. We investigated whether statin-associated myalgia is coupled to impaired aerobic exercise performance including fat oxidation as well as impaired muscle strength. METHODS: A population-based survey (6000 people) was performed to assess the prevalence of statin-associated myalgia in the Danish population. In addition, 64 statin users in primary prevention with myalgia (M; n = 25; 61 ± 1 yr) or without myalgia (NM; n = 37; 63 ± 1 yr) as well as a control group not taking statins (C; n = 20; 60 ± 2 yr) were enrolled in a cross-sectional study where they performed aerobic exercise and muscle strength tests. RESULTS: The response rate for the survey was 51% and data showed a prevalence of statin-associated myalgia in 19% of responders using statins. The experimental study showed no difference between the groups in aerobic capacity (C, 29 ± 1 mL O2·min·kg; M, 27 ± 1 mL O2·min·kg; NM, 28 ± 1 mL O2·min·kg) or maximal fat oxidation (C, 247 ± 26 mg·min; M, 295 ± 24 mg·min; NM, 279 ± 17 mg·min). Measurements of strength were similar in all three groups including rate of force development (C, 795 ± 56 N·m·s; M, 930 ± 93 N·m·s; NM, 971 ± 57 N·m·s) and leg extension power (C: 2.6 ± 0.2; M: 2.3 ± 0.1; NM: 2.4 ± 0.1 W·kg). All results are mean ± SEM. CONCLUSION: Statin users in primary prevention experiencing myalgia do not have impaired aerobic exercise performance or muscle strength compared to nonmyalgic statin users or control subjects.

Statin Treatment Decreases Mitochondrial Respiration But Muscle Coenzyme Q10 Levels Are Unaltered: The LIFESTAT Study.

BACKGROUND: Myalgia is a common adverse effect of statin therapy, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Statins may reduce levels of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is an essential electron carrier in the mitochondrial electron transport system, thereby impairing mitochondrial respiratory function, potentially leading to myalgia. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether statin-induced myalgia is coupled to reduced intramuscular CoQ10 concentration and impaired mitochondrial respiratory function. METHODS: Patients receiving simvastatin (i.e., statin) therapy (n = 64) were recruited, of whom 25 experienced myalgia (myalgic group) and 39 had no symptoms of myalgia (NS group). Another 20 had untreated high blood cholesterol levels (control group). Blood and muscle samples were obtained. Intramuscular CoQ10 concentration was measured, and mitochondrial respiratory function and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were measured. Citrate synthase (CS) activity was used as a biomarker of mitochondrial content in skeletal muscle. RESULTS: Intramuscular CoQ10 concentration was comparable among groups. Mitochondrial complex II-linked respiration was reduced in the statin-myalgic and -NS groups compared with the control group. When mitochondrial respiration was normalized to CS activity, respiration rate was higher in the myalgic group compared with the NS and control groups. Maximal ROS production was similar among groups. CONCLUSION: Statin therapy appeared to impair mitochondrial complex-II-linked respiration, but the mitochondrial capacity for complex I+II-linked respiration remained intact. Myalgia was not coupled to reduced intramuscular CoQ10 levels. Intrinsic mitochondrial respiratory capacity was increased with statin-induced myalgia but not accompanied by increased ROS production.

Coenzyme Q10 does not improve peripheral insulin sensitivity in statin-treated men and women: the LIFESTAT study.

Simvastatin is a cholesterol-lowering drug that is prescribed to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease following high levels of blood cholesterol. There is a possible risk of new-onset diabetes mellitus with statin treatment but the mechanisms behind are unknown. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation has been found to improve glucose homeostasis in various patient populations and may increase muscle glucose transporter type 4 content. Our aim was to investigate if 8 weeks of CoQ10 supplementation can improve glucose homeostasis in simvastatin-treated subjects. Thirty-five men and women in treatment with a minimum of 40 mg of simvastatin daily were randomized to receive either 2 × 200 mg/day of CoQ10 supplementation or placebo for 8 weeks. Glucose homeostasis was investigated with fasting blood samples, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and intravenous glucose tolerance test. Insulin sensitivity was assessed with the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Different indices were calculated from fasting samples and OGTT as secondary measures of insulin sensitivity. A muscle biopsy was obtained from the vastus lateralis muscle for muscle protein analyzes. There were no changes in body composition, fasting plasma insulin, fasting plasma glucose, or 3-h glucose with intervention, but glycated hemoglobin decreased with time. Glucose homeostasis measured as the area under the curve for glucose, insulin, and C-peptide during OGTT was unchanged after intervention. Insulin secretory capacity was also unaltered after CoQ10 supplementation. Insulin sensitivity was unchanged but hepatic insulin sensitivity increased. No changes in muscle GLUT4 content was observed after intervention. CoQ10 supplementation does not change muscle GLUT4 content, insulin sensitivity, or secretory capacity, but hepatic insulin sensitivity may improve.

Inflammatory biomarkers in patients in Simvastatin treatment: No effect of co-enzyme Q10 supplementation.

PURPOSE: Atherosclerosis is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and is known to be an inflammatory process. Statin therapy decreases both cholesterol and inflammation and is used in primary and secondary prevention of CVD. However, a statin induced decrease of plasma concentrations of the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), may prevent the patients from reaching their optimal anti-inflammatory potential. Here, we studied the anti-inflammatory effect of Simvastatin therapy and CoQ10 supplementation. METHODS: 35 patients in primary prevention with Simvastatin (40 mg/day) were randomized to receive oral CoQ10 supplementation (400 mg/d) or placebo for 8 weeks. 20 patients with hypercholesterolemia who received no cholesterol-lowering treatment was a control group. Plasma concentrations of lipids and inflammatory biomarkers (interleukin-6 (IL6); -8 (IL8); -10 (IL10), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα); high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP)) as well as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were quantified before and after the intervention. RESULTS: No significant change in inflammatory markers or lipids was observed after CoQ10 supplementation Patients in Simvastatin therapy had significantly (P < 0.05) lower baseline concentration of IL6 (0.31 ±â€¯0.03 pg/ml), IL8 (1.6 ±â€¯0.1 pg/ml) IL10 (0.16 ±â€¯0.02 pg/ml) and borderline (P = 0.053) lower TNFα (0.88 ±â€¯0.05 pg/ml), but not hsCRP (1.34 ±â€¯0.19 mg/l) compared with the control group (0.62 ±â€¯0.08, 2.6 ±â€¯0.2, 0.25 ±â€¯0.01, 1.07 ±â€¯0.09, and 1.90 ±â€¯0.35, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Simvastatin therapy has beneficial effects on inflammatory markers in plasma, but CoQ10 supplementation seems to have no additional potentiating effect in patients in primary prevention. In contrast, glucose homeostasis may improve with CoQ10 supplementation.

Glucose homeostasis in statin users-The LIFESTAT study.

BACKGROUND: Statins are widely used to lower cholesterol concentrations in both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. The treatment increases the risk of muscle pain (myalgia) and of type 2 diabetes. However, the underlying mechanisms remain disputed. METHODS: We investigated whether statin induced myalgia is coupled to impaired glucose homeostasis using oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), and the hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp. We performed a cross-sectional study of statin users without CVD (primary prevention) stratified into a statin myalgic (M; n = 25) and a non-myalgic (NM; n = 39) group as well as a control group (C; n = 20) consisting of non-statin users. RESULTS: A reduction in the insulin secretion rate during the OGTT was observed in the myalgic group compared with the non-myalgic group (AUC ISROGTT , C: 1032 (683 - 1500); M: 922 (678 - 1091); NM: 1089 (933 - 1391) pmol·L-1 ·min (median with 25%-75% percentiles), but no other measurements indicated impaired ß-cell function. We found no other differences between the three groups for other measurements in the OGTT, IVGTT, and euglycemic clamp. Muscle protein content of GLUT4 and hexokinase II was similar between the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that statin users in primary prevention experiencing myalgia do not have impaired glucose homeostasis compared with other statin users or non-users. We consider this an important aspect in the dialogue between physician and patient regarding statin treatment and adverse effects.

Divergent effects of resistance and endurance exercise on plasma bile acids, FGF19, and FGF21 in humans.

BACKGROUND: Exercise has profound pleiotropic health benefits, yet the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Endocrine FGF21, bile acids (BAs), and BA-induced FGF19 have emerged as metabolic signaling molecules. Here, we investigated if dissimilar modes of exercise, resistance exercise (RE) and endurance exercise (EE), regulate plasma BAs, FGF19, and FGF21 in humans. METHODS: Ten healthy, moderately trained males were enrolled in a randomized crossover study of 1 hour of bicycling at 70% of VO2peak (EE) and 1 hour of high-volume RE. Hormones and metabolites were measured in venous blood and sampled before and after exercise and at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes after exercise. RESULTS: We observed exercise mode-specific changes in plasma concentrations of FGF19 and FGF21. Whereas FGF19 decreased following RE (P < 0.001), FGF21 increased in response to EE (P < 0.001). Total plasma BAs decreased exclusively following RE (P < 0.05), but the composition of BAs changed in response to both types of exercise. Notably, circulating levels of the potent TGR5 receptor agonist, lithocholic acid, increased with both types of exercise (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This study reveals divergent effects of EE and RE on circulating concentrations of the BA species, FGF19, and FGF21. We identify temporal relationships between decreased BA and FGF19 following RE and a sharp disparity in FGF21 concentrations, with EE eliciting a clear increase parallel to that of glucagon. FUNDING: The Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF17OC0026114) and the Lundbeck Foundation (R238-2016-2859).

Variation in mitochondrial respiratory capacity and myosin heavy chain composition in repeated muscle biopsies.

Skeletal muscle is a heterogeneous tissue and it is essential to know the methodological variation and reliability when measuring aspects of muscle function. We assessed the methodological and biological variation when measuring mitochondrial respiratory capacity (MRC), citrate synthase (CS) activity and myosin heavy chain (MHC) composition in muscle biopsies from nine healthy male participants, and in addition we assessed variation in MRC in isolated mitochondria and yeast suspension. We analysed MRC, CS activity and MHC composition in duplicates (intra-biopsy variation) to quantify the methodological variation, as well as the biological variation from multiple muscle biopsies (inter-biopsy variation) obtained at different sites of the same muscle. Three muscle biopsies (B1, B2 and B3) were obtained from each subject in m. vastus lateralis. Two of the biopsies were from the same leg and one from the other leg. For MRC, intra-biopsy coefficient of variation (CV) was 8.4% and inter-biopsy CV was 13.3%. For MHC type I, IIa and IIx intra-biopsy CV was 8.3, 6.0 and 22.3%, respectively. Inter-biopsy CV for these MHC types were 21.5, 15.4 and 42.0%, respectively. For CS activity intra-biopsy CV was 0.6% and inter-biopsy CV was 15.3%. No differences between B1, B2 and B3 were detected for MRC, CS activity or MHC composition.

2706 km cycling in 2 weeks: effects on cardiac function in 6 elderly male athletes.

OBJECTIVES: Physiological effects of exercise on trained and untrained individuals have been studied extensively. Typically, young or middle-aged individuals are examined before and after short periods of vigorous exertion. METHODS: We studied 6 elderly male athletes (61 ± 8 years (mean ± SD); baseline [Formula: see text]O2max 48 ± 5 ml·kg-1·min-1) with focus on cardiac function and biomarkers following 14 consecutive days of moderate intensity exercise. Cardiac dimensions, function, biomarkers, and other measures of cardiovascular health were examined at baseline and 2 and 28 h after the last day of cycling a total of 2706 km. RESULTS: Data collected after the cessation of exercise on the 14th day revealed significant increases in average size of the left atrium (3.5 ± 0.4 to 4.0 ± 0.3 cm; p = 0.02) and left ventricular end systolic volume (47 ± 2 to 52 ± 5 ml; p = 0.004), with no other significant changes in cardiac size or function. Small, transient increases in cardiac biomarkers (troponin T, creatine kinase myocardial band, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide) (p < 0.01) were observed 2 h after completion of cycling but no changes in systolic (including strain-analyses) or diastolic cardiac function were observed at rest. [Formula: see text]O2max was significantly lower at the 28 h time point than at baseline (p < 0.02). Plasma concentrations of total- (p < 0.01) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (p < 0.01) were markedly lower after exercise. Systolic blood pressure was unchanged, but diastolic pressure was significantly lower after exercise than at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that repeated moderate intensity exercise in elderly men was associated with a transient increase in cardiac biomarkers while cardiac function remained unaltered. A favorable reduction in blood lipids and diastolic blood pressure were seen for >28 h after the end of activity. An unexplained symptomless severe plasma hyponatremia developed in 3 of 6 subjects 28 h after the end of activity.