Exercise exerts a wide range of beneficial effects on the human body that influence cardiovascular, metabolic, and overall health. The molecular mechanisms that drive these effects are not widely understood, however. Findings from a new study provide insights into the molecular cardiometabolic response to acute exercise.
The study involved 471 adults (average age, 54 years) enrolled in the Framingham Heart Study, a long-term, ongoing study of cardiovascular disease risk among people living in Framingham, Massachusetts. The authors of the study measured levels of 588 metabolites in blood drawn from the participants before and immediately after ergometric cardiopulmonary exercise testing. They replicated these methods in a second group of 783 participants.
The authors noted changes in 508 of the metabolites. In particular, they observed changes in metabolites implicated in cardiometabolic risk, including reduced levels of those involved in insulin resistance and increased levels of metabolites associated with lipolysis, nitric oxide bioavailability, and adipose browning – the process by which white adipose tissue converts to brown adipose tissue, increasing energy expenditure and improving glucose and lipid metabolism. These changes were diminished among participants with a higher BMI, suggesting that obesity (or the metabolic disturbances that accompany it) may block the benefits of exercise.
These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms that drive the widespread cardiometabolic benefits of exercise and support public health recommendations to engage in regular physical activity.
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