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Low‐intensity training dissociates metabolic from aerobic fitness
Author(s) -
Helge J. W.,
Damsgaard R.,
Overgaard K.,
Andersen J. L.,
Donsmark M.,
Dyrskog S. E.,
Hermansen K.,
Saltin B.,
Daugaard J. R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of medicine and science in sports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.575
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1600-0838
pISSN - 0905-7188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2006.00604.x
Subject(s) - aerobic exercise , vo2 max , medicine , endocrinology , skeletal muscle , venous blood , leg muscle , zoology , biology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , blood pressure , heart rate
This study investigated the effect of prolonged whole‐body low‐intensity exercise on blood lipids, skeletal muscle adaptations and aerobic fitness. Seven male subjects completed a 32‐day crossing of the Greenland icecap on cross‐country skies and before and after this arm or leg cranking was performed on two separate days and biopsies were obtained from arm and leg muscle, and venous blood was sampled. During the crossing, subjects skied for 342±42 min/day and body mass was decreased by 7.1±0.7 kg. Peak leg oxygen uptake (4.6±0.2 L/min) was decreased ( P <0.05) by 7% whereas peak arm oxygen uptake (3.0±0.2 L/min) remained unchanged. Total and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (5.0±0.2 and 3.20.2 mmol/L) were decreased by 8% and 20%, respectively. Muscle β‐hydroxy‐acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase activity was increased with 22% in arm ( P =0.08) and remained unchanged in leg muscle. Hormone sensitive lipase activity was similar in arm and leg muscle prior to the expedition and was not significantly affected by the crossing. In conclusion, an improved blood lipid profile and thus metabolic fitness was present after prolonged low‐intensity training and this occurred in spite of a decreased aerobic fitness and an unchanged arm and leg muscle hormone‐sensitive lipase activity.