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In non‐athletes, insulin sensitivity correlates negatively with intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) content. In athletes, however, a pattern of benign IMCL storage exists, which is characterized by lipid storage in type I muscle fibres, in small and numerous lipid droplets (LDs) preferable coated with PLIN5, without affecting insulin sensitivity. Administration of resveratrol has been promoted for its beneficial effects on glucose homeostasis. We observed that 30 days of oral resveratrol administration (150 mg/day) in metabolically compromised individuals showed a 33% increase in IMCL (placebo vs. resveratrol; 0.86 ± 0.090 AU vs. 1.14 ± 0.11 AU, p = 0.003) without impeding insulin sensitivity. Thus, the aim of the present study was to examine if a resveratrol‐mediated increase in IMCL content, in metabolically compromised individuals, changes the LD phenotype towards the phenotype we previously observed in athletes. For this, we studied IMCL, LD number, LD size, subcellular distribution and PLIN5 coating in different fibre types using high‐resolution confocal microscopy. As proof of concept, we observed a 2.3‐fold increase (p = 0.038) in lipid accumulation after 48 h of resveratrol incubation in cultured human primary muscle cells. In vivo analysis showed that resveratrol‐induced increase in IMCL is predominantly in type I muscle fibres (placebo vs. resveratrol; 0.97 ± 0.16% vs. 1.26 ± 0.09%; p = 0.030) in both the subsarcolemmal (p = 0.016) and intermyofibrillar region (p = 0.026) and particularly in PLIN5‐coated LDs (p = 0.024). These data indicate that administration of resveratrol augments IMCL content in metabolically compromised individuals towards a LD phenotype that mimics an ‘athlete like phenotype’., Resveratrol increases IMCL in type I muscle fibers originating primarily from an increase in number of lipid droplets rather than size.

High-fitness individuals have been suggested to be at risk of a poor vitamin B2 (riboflavin) status due to a potentially higher vitamin B2 demand, as measured by the erythrocyte glutathione reductase (EGR) activation coefficient (EGRAC). Longer-term exercise interventions have been shown to result in a lower vitamin B2 status, but studies are contradictory. Short-term exercise effects potentially contribute to discrepancies between studies but have only been tested in limited study populations. This study investigated if vitamin B2 status, measured by EGRAC, is affected by a single exercise bout in females who differ in fitness levels, and that represents long-term physical activity. At baseline and overnight after a 60-min cycling bout at 70% V·O2peak, EGR activity and EGRAC were measured in 31 young female adults, divided into a high-fit (V·O2peak ≥ 47 mL/kg/min, N = 15) and low-fit (V·O2peak ≤ 37 mL/kg/min, N = 16) group. A single exercise bout significantly increased EGR activity in high-fit and low-fit females (Ptime = 0.006). This response was not affected by fitness level (Ptime*group = 0.256). The effect of exercise on EGRAC was not significant (Ptime = 0.079) and not influenced by EGR activity. The exercise response of EGRAC was not significantly different between high-fit and low-fit females (Ptime*group = 0.141). Thus, a single exercise bout increased EGR activity, but did not affect EGRAC, indicating that vitamin B2 status was not affected. The exercise response on EGRAC and EGR did not differ between high-fit and low-fit females.

Contains fulltext : 203382.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) BACKGROUND: An inadequate protein intake may offset the muscle protein synthetic response after physical activity, reducing the possible benefits of an active lifestyle for muscle mass. We examined the effects of 12 weeks of daily protein supplementation on lean body mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in physically active older adults with a low habitual protein intake (

Contains fulltext : 153881.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) There is an increasing need for novel preventive and therapeutic strategies to combat obesity and related metabolic disorders. In this respect, the natural polyphenol resveratrol has attracted significant interest. Animal studies indicate that resveratrol mimics the effects of calorie restriction via activation of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). SIRT1 is an important player in the regulation of cellular energy homeostasis and mitochondrial biogenesis. Rodent studies have shown beneficial effects of resveratrol supplementation on mitochondrial function, glucose metabolism, body composition and liver fat accumulation. However, confirmation of these beneficial effects in humans by placebo-controlled clinical trials remains relatively limited. This review will give an overview of pre-clinical and clinical studies examining the effects of resveratrol on obesity-induced negative health outcomes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Resveratrol: Challenges in translating pre-clinical findings to improved patient outcomes. 01 juni 2015

Context: Statin myopathy is linked to disturbances in mitochondrial function and exercise intolerance. Objectives: To determine whether differences exist in exercise performance, muscle function, and muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity and content between symptomatic and asymptomatic statin users, and control subjects. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Physiology, Radboud University Medical Center. Participants: Long-term symptomatic and asymptomatic statin users, and control subjects (n = 10 per group). Interventions: Maximal incremental cycling tests, involuntary electrically stimulated isometric quadriceps-muscle contractions, and biopsy of vastus lateralis muscle. Main Outcomes Measured: Maximal exercise capacity, substrate use during exercise, muscle function, and mitochondrial energy metabolism. Results: Peak oxygen uptake, maximal work load, and ventilatory efficiency were comparable between groups, but both statin groups had a depressed anaerobic threshold compared with the control group (P = 0.01). Muscle relaxation time was prolonged in both statin groups compared with the control group and rate of maximal force rise was decreased (Ptime3group , 0.001 for both measures). Mitochondrial activity of complexes II and IV was lower in symptomatic statin users than control subjects and tended to be lower for complex (C) III (CII: P = 0.03; CIII: P = 0.05; CIV: P = 0.04). Mitochondrial content tended to be lower in both statin groups than in control subjects. Conclusion: Statin use attenuated substrate use during maximal exercise performance, induced muscle fatigue during repeated muscle contractions, and decreased muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity. This suggests disturbances in mitochondrial oxidative capacity occur with statin use even in patients without statin-induced muscle complaints.

Background: The obese insulin-resistant state is characterized by impairments in lipid metabolism.We previously showed that 3-d supplementation of combined epigallocatechin-3-gallate and resveratrol (EGCG+RES) increased energy expenditure and improved the capacity to switch from fat toward carbohydrate oxidation with a high-fat mixed meal (HFMM) test in men. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the longer-term effect of EGCG+RES supplementation on metabolic profile, mitochondrial capacity, fat oxidation, lipolysis, and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity. Design: In this randomized double-blind study, 38 overweight and obese subjects [18 men; aged 38 6 2 y; body mass index (kg/m2): 29.7 6 0.5] received either EGCG+RES (282 and 80 mg/d, respectively) or placebo for 12 wk. Before and after the intervention, oxidative capacity and gene expression were assessed in skeletal muscle. Fasting and postprandial (HFMM) lipid metabolism was assessed by using indirect calorimetry, blood sampling, and microdialysis. Tissue-specific insulin sensitivity was assessed by a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp with [6,6-2H2]-glucose infusion. Results: EGCG+RES supplementation did not affect the fasting plasma metabolic profile. Although whole-body fat mass was not affected, visceral adipose tissue mass tended to decrease after the intervention compared with placebo (P-time 3 treatment = 0.09). EGCG+RES supplementation significantly increased oxidative capacity in permeabilized muscle fibers (P-time 3 treatment , 0.05, P-EGCG+RES , 0.05). Moreover, EGCG+RES reduced fasting (P-time 3 treatment = 0.03) and postprandial respiratory quotient (P-time 3 treatment = 0.01) compared with placebo. Fasting and postprandial fat oxidation was not significantly affected by EGCG +RES (P-EGCG+RES = 0.46 and 0.38, respectively) but declined after placebo (P-placebo = 0.05 and 0.03, respectively). Energy expenditure was not altered (P-time 3 treatment = 0.96). Furthermore, EGCG+RES supplementation attenuated the increase in plasma triacylglycerol concentrations during the HFMM test that was observed after placebo (P-time 3 treatment = 0.04, P-placebo = 0.01). Finally, EGCG+RES had no effect on insulin-stimulated glucose disposal, suppression of endogenous glucose production, or lipolysis. Conclusion: Twelve weeks of EGCG+RES supplementation increased mitochondrial capacity and stimulated fat oxidation compared with placebo, but this did not translate into increased tissue-specific insulin sensitivity in overweight and obese subjects. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02381145. Am J Clin Nutr doi: 10.3945/ajcn.115.122937. Keywords: insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial capacity, obesity, polyphenols, resveratrol

A low fat oxidative capacity has been linked to muscle diacylglycerol (DAG) accumulation and insulin resistance. Alternatively, a low fat oxidation rate may stimulate glucose oxidation, thereby enhancing glucose disposal. Here, we investigated whether an ethyl-2-[6-(4-chlorophenoxy)hexyl]-oxirane-2-carboxylate (etomoxir)-induced inhibition of fat oxidation leads to muscle fat storage and insulin resistance. An intervention in healthy male subjects was combined with studies in human primary myotubes. Furthermore, muscle DAG and triacylglycerol (TAG), mitochondrial function, and insulin signaling were examined in etomoxir-treated C57bl6 mice. In humans, etomoxir administration increased glucose oxidation at the expense of fat oxidation. This effect was accompanied by an increased abundance of GLUT4 at the sarcolemma and a lowering of plasma glucose levels, indicative of improved glucose homeostasis. In mice, etomoxir injections resulted in accumulation of muscle TAG and DAG, yet improved insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation. Also in human myotubes, insulin signaling was improved by etomoxir, in the presence of increased intramyocellular lipid accumulation. These insulin-sensitizing effects in mice and human myotubes were accompanied by increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Our results show that a reduction in fat oxidation leading to accumulation of muscle DAG does not necessarily lead to insulin resistance, as the reduction in fat oxidation may activate AMPK.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by excessive lipid storage in skeletal muscle. Excessive intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) storage exceeds intracellular needs and induces lipotoxic events, ultimately contributing to the development of insulin resistance. Lipid droplet (LD)–coating proteins may control proper lipid storage in skeletal muscle. Perilipin 2 (PLIN2/adipose differentiation–related protein [ADRP]) is one of the most abundantly expressed LD-coating proteins in skeletal muscle. Here we examined the role of PLIN2 in myocellular lipid handling and insulin sensitivity by investigating the effects of in vitro PLIN2 knockdown and in vitro and in vivo overexpression. PLIN2 knockdown decreased LD formation and triacylglycerol (TAG) storage, marginally increased fatty-acid (FA) oxidation, and increased incorporation of palmitate into diacylglycerols and phospholipids. PLIN2 overexpression in vitro increased intramyocellular TAG storage paralleled with improved insulin sensitivity. In vivo muscle-specific PLIN2 overexpression resulted in increased LD accumulation and blunted the high-fat diet–induced increase in protein content of the subunits of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) chain. Diacylglycerol levels were unchanged, whereas ceramide levels were increased. Despite the increased IMCL accumulation, PLIN2 overexpression improved skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity. We conclude that PLIN2 is essential for lipid storage in skeletal muscle by enhancing the partitioning of excess FAs toward TAG storage in LDs, thereby blunting lipotoxicity-associated insulin resistance.

Failure of insulin to elicit an increase in glucose uptake and metabolism in target tissues such as skeletal muscle is a major characteristic of non-insulin dependent type 2 diabetes mellitus. A strong correlation between intramyocellular triacylglycerol concentrations and the severity of insulin resistance has been found and led to the assumption that lipid oversupply to skeletal muscle contributes to reduced insulin action. However, the molecular mechanism that links intramyocellular lipid content with the generation of muscle insulin resistance is still unclear. It appears unlikely that the neutral lipid metabolite triacylglycerol directly impairs insulin action. Hence it is believed that intermediates in fatty acid metabolism, such as fatty acyl-CoA, ceramides or diacylglycerol (DAG) link fat deposition in the muscle to compromised insulin signaling. DAG is identified as a potential mediator of lipid-induced insulin resistance, as increased DAG levels are associated with protein kinase C activation and a reduction in both insulin-stimulated IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation and PI3 kinase activity. As DAG is an intermediate in the synthesis of triacylglycerol from fatty acids and glycerol, its level can be lowered by either improving the oxidation of cellular fatty acids or by accelerating the incorporation of fatty acids into triacylglycerol. This review discusses the evidence that implicates DAG being central in the development of muscular insulin resistance. Furthermore, we will discuss if and how modulation of skeletal muscle DAG levels could function as a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Contains fulltext : 171584.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Cell and animal studies have demonstrated that circadian rhythm is governed by autonomous rhythmicity of clock genes. Although disturbances in circadian rhythm have been implicated in metabolic disease development, it remains unknown whether muscle circadian rhythm is altered in human models of type 2 diabetes. Here we used human primary myotubes (HPM) to investigate if rhythmicity of clock- and metabolic gene expression is altered in donors with obesity or type 2 diabetes compared to metabolically healthy donors. HPM were obtained from skeletal muscle biopsies of four groups: type 2 diabetic patients and their BMI- and age-matched obese controls and from lean, healthy and young endurance trained athletes and their age-matched sedentary controls. HPM were differentiated for 7 days before synchronization by serum shock followed by gene expression profiling over the next 72 hours. HPM display robust circadian rhythms in clock genes, but REVERBA displayed dampened rhythmicity in type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, rhythmicity in NAMPT and SIRT1 expression was only observed in HPM from trained athletes. Rhythmicity in expression of key-regulators of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism was modest. We demonstrate that in human skeletal muscle REVERBA/B, NAMPT and SIRT1 circadian rhythms are affected in donors of sedentary life style and poor health status.

Item does not contain fulltext We previously demonstrated that the deletion of the poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (Parp)-1 gene in mice enhances oxidative metabolism, thereby protecting against diet-induced obesity. However, the therapeutic use of PARP inhibitors to enhance mitochondrial function remains to be explored. Here, we show tight negative correlation between Parp-1 expression and energy expenditure in heterogeneous mouse populations, indicating that variations in PARP-1 activity have an impact on metabolic homeostasis. Notably, these genetic correlations can be translated into pharmacological applications. Long-term treatment with PARP inhibitors enhances fitness in mice by increasing the abundance of mitochondrial respiratory complexes and boosting mitochondrial respiratory capacity. Furthermore, PARP inhibitors reverse mitochondrial defects in primary myotubes of obese humans and attenuate genetic defects of mitochondrial metabolism in human fibroblasts and C. elegans. Overall, our work validates in worm, mouse, and human models that PARP inhibition may be used to treat both genetic and acquired muscle dysfunction linked to defective mitochondrial function.

The natural polyphenolic compound resveratrol was first discovered in the 1940s. In the recent years, this compound received renewed interest as several findings implicated resveratrol as a potent SIRT1 activator capable of mimicking the effects of calorie restriction, and regulating longevity in lower organisms. Given the worldwide increase in age-related metabolic diseases the beneficial effects of resveratrol on metabolism and healthy aging in humans are currently a topic of intense investigation.

Accumulation of triacylglycerols (TAGs) and acylcarnitines in skeletal muscle upon high-fat (HF) feeding is the resultant of fatty acid uptake and oxidation and is associated with insulin resistance. As medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are preferentially beta-oxidized over long-chain fatty acids, we examined the effects of medium-chain TAGs (MCTs) and long-chain TAGs (LCTs) on muscle lipid storage and whole-body glucose tolerance. Rats fed a low-fat (LF), HFLCT, or an isocaloric HFMCT diet displayed a similar body weight gain over 8 weeks of treatment. Only HFLCT increased myocellular TAG (42.3 +/- 4.9, 71.9 +/- 6.7, and 48.5 +/- 6.5 micromol/g for LF, HFLCT, and HFMCT, respectively, P < 0.05) and long-chain acylcarnitine content (P < 0.05). Neither HF diet increased myocellular diacylglycerol (DAG) content. Intraperitoneal (IP) glucose tolerance tests (1.5 g/kg) revealed a significantly decreased glucose tolerance in the HFMCT compared to the HFLCT-fed rats (802 +/- 40, 772 +/- 18, and 886 +/- 18 area under the curve for LF, HFLCT, and HFMCT, respectively, P < 0.05). Finally, no differences in myocellular insulin signaling after bolus insulin injection (10 U/kg) were observed between LF, HFLCT, or HFMCT-fed rats. These results show that accumulation of TAGs and acylcarnitines in skeletal muscle in the absence of body weight gain do not impede myocellular insulin signaling or whole-body glucose intolerance.

Objective: In conditions of continuous high-fat (HF) intake, the degree of saturation of the fatty acids (FAs) in the diet might have a crucial role in the onset of obesity and its metabolic complications. In particular, the FA composition of the diet might influence the storage form of lipids inside skeletal muscle. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the FA composition of HF diets differentially affects weight gain and accumulation of myocellular triacylglycerol (TAG) and diacylglycerol (DAG). Furthermore, we examined whether the FA composition of the diet was reflected in the composition of the myocellular lipid intermediates. Design: C57Bl6 mice were fed HF diets (45% energy) mainly containing palm oil (PO), cocoa butter (CB), olive oil (OO) or safflower oil (SO; n=6 per group) for 8 weeks. A low-fat diet (10% energy, PO) was used as control. Body weight was monitored weekly. At the end of the dietary intervention, myocellular TAG and DAG content and profiles were measured. Results: We here show that HF_CB prevented weight gain after 8 weeks of HF feeding. Furthermore, the HF diet rich in SO prevented the accumulation of both myocellular TAG and DAG. Interestingly, the FA composition of DAG and TAG in skeletal muscle was a reflection of the dietary FA composition. Conclusion: Already after a relatively short period, the dietary FA intake relates to the FA composition of the lipid metabolites in the muscle. A diet rich in polyunsaturated FAs seems to prevent myocellular lipid accumulation.