Cited by 72Muscle metabolism and nutritionFatty Acid Research and HealthExercise and Physiological Responses

The Importance of Fatty Acids as Nutrients during Post-Exercise Recovery

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Lundsgaard, Anne-Marie, Fritzen, Andreas M., Kiens, Bente·2020·Nutrients

Abstract

It is well recognized that whole-body fatty acid (FA) oxidation remains increased for several hours following aerobic endurance exercise, even despite carbohydrate intake. However, the mechanisms involved herein have hitherto not been subject to a thorough evaluation. In immediate and early recovery (0–4 h), plasma FA availability is high, which seems mainly to be a result of hormonal factors and increased adipose tissue blood flow. The increased circulating availability of adipose-derived FA, coupled with FA from lipoprotein lipase (LPL)-derived very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-triacylglycerol (TG) hydrolysis in skeletal muscle capillaries and hydrolysis of TG within the muscle together act as substrates for the increased mitochondrial FA oxidation post-exercise. Within the skeletal muscle cells, increased reliance on FA oxidation likely results from enhanced FA uptake into the mitochondria through the carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) 1 reaction, and concomitant AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-mediated pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) inhibition of glucose oxidation. Together this allows glucose taken up by the skeletal muscles to be directed towards the resynthesis of glycogen. Besides being oxidized, FAs also seem to be crucial signaling molecules for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) signaling post-exercise, and thus for induction of the exercise-induced FA oxidative gene adaptation program in skeletal muscle following exercise. Collectively, a high FA turnover in recovery seems essential to regain whole-body substrate homeostasis.

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  • Continued fatty acid oxidation takes place during the post-exercise early recovery period (4 h) and continues at a lesser degree (still above baseline) for as long as 24 h.

    “continued FAO takes place during the post-exercise early recovery period (i.e., 4 h) and continues at a lesser degree (still above baseline) for as long as 24 h [32]”

    From The Role of Exercise in the Interplay between Myokines, Hepatokines, Osteokines, Adipokines, and Modulation of Inflammation for Energy Substrate Redistribution and Fat Mass Loss: A Review (2020) · cites this paper as [32]

    The Introduction reports increased fatty acid oxidation for several hours after aerobic exercise, and Section 2.2 reports increased nocturnal oxidation and lower respiratory exchange ratios the following day. The paper does not establish that oxidation remains elevated at 24 hours or quantify it as less elevated than during the first four hours; its 21–24-hour figure concerns fatty acid appearance in plasma, not oxidation. (LLM, conf=0.85)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Following bouts of aerobic exercise, circulating FFAs and SkM FAO remain significantly elevated depending on exercise intensity and duration.

    “Following bouts of aerobic exercise, circulating FFAs and the SkM FAO remain significantly elevated depending on exercise intensity and duration [32].”

    From The Role of Exercise in the Interplay between Myokines, Hepatokines, Osteokines, Adipokines, and Modulation of Inflammation for Energy Substrate Redistribution and Fat Mass Loss: A Review (2020) · cites this paper as [32]

    Section 2 (page unavailable) reports that circulating fatty acids remain elevated after aerobic exercise and that the immediate increase is related to exercise intensity. Section 4.1 (page unavailable) reports leg fatty acid oxidation above resting levels during recovery. The paper does not establish that the persistence of both elevations depends on exercise intensity and duration; its Introduction links those factors to post-exercise oxygen consumption instead. (LLM, conf=0.84)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • FFAs become the main substrate in the post-exercise recovery period.

    “but FFAs become the main substrate in the post-exercise recovery period [32]”

    From The Role of Exercise in the Interplay between Myokines, Hepatokines, Osteokines, Adipokines, and Modulation of Inflammation for Energy Substrate Redistribution and Fat Mass Loss: A Review (2020) · cites this paper as [32]

    The Introduction and Section 5 describe an increased contribution from fatty-acid oxidation after aerobic exercise and a preference for it over glucose oxidation in recovering skeletal muscle. They do not establish that free fatty acids become the main substrate throughout post-exercise recovery; the Introduction also describes fatty acids supplied from both circulating free fatty acids and triglyceride hydrolysis. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors
Lundsgaard, A.-M., Fritzen, A. M., & Kiens, B.
Affiliations
University of Copenhagen (DK)
Corresponding author
Kiens, Bente
Venue
Nutrients
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2020-01-21
Volume
12
Issue
2
Pages
280
ISSN
2072-6643 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3002910289
Cited by
72
References
94
Citations by year
2026: 9 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 8
FWCI
0.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nutrients (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Sundhed og Sygdom, Det Frie Forskningsråd
  • Danish Diabetes Academy (NNF17SA0031406])
  • Novo Nordisk (NNF17SA0031406)
  • Alfred Benzon Foundation
  • Novo Nordisk Fonden (NNF19OC0057404, #NNF17SA0031406, NNF18OC0034392)
  • H. Lundbeck A/S
  • Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
  • Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Fatty Acid Research and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Rehabilitation › Exercise and Physiological Responses
Keywords
fatty acid oxidation, post-exercise recovery, plasma fatty acids, adipose tissue blood flow, lipoprotein lipase, skeletal muscle, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, AMPK, pyruvate dehydrogenase, glycogen resynthesis, PPAR signaling
MeSH terms
Nutrients, Adipose Tissue, Biological Availability, Carnitine O-Palmitoyltransferase, Fatty Acids, Glucose, Glycogen, Homeostasis, Humans, Hydrolysis, Lipoprotein Lipase, Lipoproteins, VLDL, Oxidation-Reduction, Triglycerides, Signal Transduction, Exercise, Muscle, Skeletal, Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors, AMP-Activated Protein Kinases

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