Diabetologie und Stoffwechsel 2010; 5 - P87
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1253815

Medium chain acylcarnitines are exercise-related biomarkers with the potency to enhance fatty acid oxidation

C Weigert 1, X Zhao 2, P Simon 3, E Fehrenbach 4, M Hoene 1, J Wang 2, ED Schleicher 1, HU Häring 1, G Xu 2, AM Niess 3, R Lehmann 1
  • 1Universitätsklinik Tübingen, Innere Medizin IV, Tübingen, Germany
  • 2Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China
  • 3Universitätklinik Tübingen, Sportmedizin, Tübingen, Germany
  • 4Universitätklinik Tübingen, Transfusionsmedizin, Tübingen, Germany

Aims: Metabolomics is a powerful tool to investigate complex metabolic processes. The term stands for the non-targeted, comprehensive analysis of metabolites. Here it is used to identify exercise-related biomarkers as potential signaling molecules that are involved in the beneficial adaptation to regular physical activity.

Methods: In the presented non-targeted metabolomics approach, applying liquid chromatography-qTOF-mass spectrometry, the plasma metabolome of thirteen endurance-trained men before, directly after a 60min continuous run at 93% VIAT on a treadmill, and after 3h and 24h of recovery phase was investigated. Further studies were performed in human myotubes.

Results: Medium and long chain acylcarnitines revealed as the most discriminative exercise biomarkers between the different time points. In a follow-up runner study (at 70% VIAT) under normoxic vs. normobaric, hypoxic conditions we could show, that the release of acylcarnitines during moderate exercise did not arise from oxygen depletion. Moreover, we provided evidence for defined effects of extracellular acylcarnitines on metabolism and gene expression demonstrated in human myotubes as well as in skeletal muscle tissue. Particularly, medium chain acylcarnitines enhance fatty acid oxidation more than the well-known dietary supplement carnitine.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that the role of acylcarnitines solely as byproducts of substrate catabolism or readout of β-oxidation should be reconsidered.