Sexual dimorphism of substrate utilization: Differences in skeletal muscle mitochondrial volume density and function

• Fat oxidation during exercise is greater in females than in males. We sought to determine whether sex differences in substrate metabolism are paralleled by distinct skeletal muscle mitochondrial volume density and oxidative capacity. Whole-body substrate (fat and carbohydrate) utilization during submaximal treadmill running was assessed, and skeletal muscle biopsies were taken to determine mitochondrial volume density and function in healthy young females (n=12) and males (n=12) matched by aerobic exercise capacity and exercise performance. Females presented a lower respiratory exchange ratio (0.87 +/- 0.04 versus 0.91 +/- 0.04, P=0.023) and whole-body carbohydrate oxidation (27.8 +/- 8.3 versus 35.8 +/- 6.5mgkg(-1)min(-1), P=0.027), whereas fat oxidation was higher (8.7 +/- 2.8 versus 5.9 +/- 2.6mgkg(-1)min(-1), P=0.034) during submaximal exercise compared with males. In skeletal muscle biopsies, females demonstrated augmented mitochondrial volume density (7.51 +/- 1.77 versus 5.90 +/- 1.72%, P=0.035) and oxidative capacity for fatty acid [36.6 +/- 12.8 versus 24.5 +/- 7.3pmol O(2)s(-1)(mg wet weight)(-1), P=0.009] and lactate [71.1 +/- 24.4 versus 53.2 +/- 14.6pmol O(2)s(-1)(mg wet weight)(-1), P=0.040]. No sex differences in respiratory exchange ratio, whole-body fat oxidation and skeletal muscle variables were detected when adjusted for anthropometric variables including body mass or leg mass, which were lower in females. In conclusion, female prioritization of fat over carbohydrate oxidation during exercise is underpinned by augmented body size-related mitochondrial volume density, fatty acid and lactate oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle fibres.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Medicinska och farmaceutiska grundvetenskaper -- Fysiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Basic Medicine -- Physiology (hsv//eng)

Keyword

body size

fat oxidation

mitochondria

sex differences

substrate metabolism

endurance exercise

gender-differences

fat oxidation

submaximal

exercise

enzyme-activity

oxygen-uptake

body-mass

women

men

metabolism

Physiology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)