Advertisement

Research Article Free access | 10.1172/JCI117226

Different alterations in the insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in the athlete's heart and skeletal muscle.

P Nuutila, M J Knuuti, O J Heinonen, U Ruotsalainen, M Teräs, J Bergman, O Solin, H Yki-Järvinen, L M Voipio-Pulkki, and U Wegelius

Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.

Find articles by Nuutila, P. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.

Find articles by Knuuti, M. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.

Find articles by Heinonen, O. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.

Find articles by Ruotsalainen, U. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.

Find articles by Teräs, M. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.

Find articles by Bergman, J. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.

Find articles by Solin, O. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.

Find articles by Yki-Järvinen, H. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.

Find articles by Voipio-Pulkki, L. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland.

Find articles by Wegelius, U. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Published May 1, 1994 - More info

Published in Volume 93, Issue 5 on May 1, 1994
J Clin Invest. 1994;93(5):2267–2274. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI117226.
© 1994 The American Society for Clinical Investigation
Published May 1, 1994 - Version history
View PDF
Abstract

Physical training increases skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity. Since training also causes functional and structural changes in the myocardium, we compared glucose uptake rates in the heart and skeletal muscles of trained and untrained individuals. Seven male endurance athletes (VO2max 72 +/- 2 ml/kg/min) and seven sedentary subjects matched for characteristics other than VO2max (43 +/- 2 ml/kg/min) were studied. Whole body glucose uptake was determined with a 2-h euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp, and regional glucose uptake in femoral and arm muscles, and myocardium using 18F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose and positron emission tomography. Glucose uptake in the athletes was increased by 68% in whole body (P < 0.0001), by 99% in the femoral muscles (P < 0.01), and by 62% in arm muscles (P = 0.06), but it was decreased by 33% in the heart muscle (P < 0.05) as compared with the sedentary subjects. The total glucose uptake rate in the heart was similar in the athletes and control subjects. Left ventricular mass in the athletes was 79% greater (P < 0.001) and the meridional wall stress smaller (P < 0.001) as estimated by echocardiography. VO2max correlated directly with left ventricular mass (r = 0.87, P < 0.001) and inversely with left ventricular wall stress (r = -0.86, P < 0.001). Myocardial glucose uptake correlated directly with the rate-pressure product (r = 0.75, P < 0.02) and inversely with left ventricular mass (r = -0.60, P < 0.05) or with the whole body glucose disposal (r = -0.68, P < 0.01). Thus, in athletes, (a) insulin-stimulated glucose uptake is enhanced in the whole body and skeletal muscles, (b) whereas myocardial glucose uptake per muscle mass is reduced possibly due to decreased wall stress and energy requirements or the use of alternative fuels, or both.

Images.

Browse pages

Click on an image below to see the page. View PDF of the complete article

Version history
  • Version 1 (May 1, 1994): No description
Advertisement
Advertisement