Investigation of Fat Oxidation During Moderate Versus Vigorous Intensity Exercise

Investigation of Fat and Carbohydrate Oxidation During Moderate Versus Vigorous Intensity Exercise in Healthy Volunteers With Sedentary Lifestyle

Exercise is widely suggested as an important lifestyle change for weight loss, however, the optimal level of intensity moderate versus vigorous remains unclear. It is known that in athletes, during very high-intensity exercise, fat oxidation is decreased and energy is gained mainly from carbohydrate utilization. The aim of this study is to find an optimal workload based on fat oxidation rate during exercise in volunteers with a sedentary lifestyle.

It is planned to recruit 12 healthy volunteers with a sedentary lifestyle in the study group. Since different regimens (fed, fasted and moderate versus vigorous) will be compared in the same subjects, no control group is necessary. Subjects will perform a cycling test with 5 min incremental intensity exercise and 1 h cycling test exercising at a moderate-intensity (load will be selected after the incremental intensity exercise). The expiration of carbon dioxide (CO2) and consumption of oxygen (O2) will be measured, to determine the total fatty acid and carbohydrate oxidation during cycling. Concomitantly, it is planned to measure blood lactate and glucose concentrations during exercise experiments as well as a wide range of blood biochemistry parameters before and after exercise.

The investigators expect to find optimal conditions for the sedentary population for burning of fat, which is the major source of energy during moderate-intensity exercise. Measurements of the fat and carbohydrate oxidation in healthy volunteers with a sedentary lifestyle will contribute to the understanding of exercise regimens for the most effective fat oxidation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy
• Sedentary lifestyle
• BMI 20 - 30 kg/m2
• Be able to attend the laboratory and willing to participate in necessary protocols
• Be willing to undertake the duration of the exercise protocol (3 x 1 hour)
• Have the capacity and willingness to provide informed consent (oral and written)

Exclusion Criteria:

• athletes
• Individuals with chronic cardiovascular disease such as hypertension, valve disease, coronary artery disease, cardiac conduction abnormalities, etc.
• History of pneumothorax or chronic lung disease such as asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis
• Active Smokers
• Pregnant women