Identification of Muscle-specific Biomarkers of Fatty Acid Beta-oxidation

Study Summary

Elevated fat levels within skeletal muscle cells (intramyocellular lipids) are highly correlated with muscle and whole-body insulin resistance, and more prevalent in obesity. The molecular links and metabolic shifts driving this association remain open to debate, but notably, reduced muscle mitochondrial fatty acid (FA) ß-oxidation is more prevalent among insulin-resistant/diabetic persons. Therefore, discovery of biomarkers reflective of the status of an individual's muscle FA ß-oxidation activity or capacity would have tremendous prognostic and diagnostic value in terms of diabetes. Furthermore, characterization of metabolites associated with muscle mitochondrial fat metabolism should uncover candidate signaling factors which tie FA ß-oxidation to insulin signaling. The investigators propose to identify, for the first time, specific biomarkers of muscle FA ß-oxidation using multiple metabolomic analytical platforms to compare metabolite profiles in samples derived from biological systems displaying disparate muscle fat combustion. The current experiment will test whether plasma metabolites and/or metabolite signatures that track efficient muscular FA ß-oxidation can be experimentally increased in obese, insulin-resistant subjects via a diet-exercise regimen designed to improve muscle fitness and FA combustion.

Primary Outcome

Overnight fasted subjects will start the test at a low cycle ergometer resistance level and encouraged to maintain a steady rate of pedaling, and resistance will increase at 2-min intervals until volitional fatigue. Indirect calorimetry will be used to measure VO2 and CO2 continuously during the exercise test. Subjects will receive a pre-test ECG, breath volume test and medical exam to assure the subject has no underlying medical problems that would put them at an undue risk during the exercise

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• BEHAVIORAL Diet and Exercise

Study Locations (1)