Use of muscle fat stores during recovery after exercise in humans

Muscle triacylglycerol concentrations remained unchanged at 49 +/- 5 mmol/kg dry weight during exhaustive exercise.

• Exercise significantly reduced muscle glycogen concentrations from 533 +/- 18 to 108 +/- 10 mmol/kg dry weight.
• In the first 18 hours postexercise, muscle glycogen concentrations were restored to 409 +/- 20 mmol/kg dry weight, while triacylglycerol concentrations decreased to 38 +/- 5 mmol/kg dry weight.
• Lipoprotein lipase activity increased by 72% after exercise compared to preexercise values.
• Despite a high carbohydrate intake, a relatively high lipid combustion was indicated by pulmonary respiratory exchange ratio values of 0.80-0.82.
• Muscle triacylglycerols may play a significant role in providing fuel for muscle metabolism during the postexercise recovery period.

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