Muscle Glycogen Utilization during Exercise after Ingestion of Alcohol

Harry Smith, Aaron Hengist, Drusus Johnson-Bonson, Jean-Philippe Walhin, Robbie Jones, Kostas Tsintzas, Gregg Afman, Javier Gonzalez, James Betts

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Abstract

Purpose Ingested ethanol (EtOH) is metabolized gastrically and hepatically, which may influence resting and exercise metabolism. Previous exercise studies have provided EtOH intravenously rather than orally, altering the metabolic effects of EtOH. No studies to date have investigated the effects of EtOH ingestion on systemic and peripheral (e.g., skeletal muscle) exercise metabolism. Methods Eight men (mean ± SD; age = 24 ± 5 yr, body mass = 76.7 ± 5.6 kg, height = 1.80 ± 0.04 m, VO2peak = 4.1 ± 0.2 L·min-1) performed two bouts of fasted cycling exercise at 55% VO2peak for 2 h, with (EtOH) and without (control) prior ingestion of EtOH 1 h and immediately before exercise (total dose = 0.1 g·kg lean body mass-1·h-1; 30.2 ± 1.1 g 40% ABV Vodka; fed in two equal boluses) in a randomized order, separated by 7-10 d. Results Muscle glycogen use during exercise was not different between conditions (mean [normalized 95% confidence interval]; EtOH, 229 [156-302] mmol·kg dm-1, vs control, 258 [185-331] mmol·kg dm-1; P = 0.67). Mean plasma glucose concentrations during exercise were similar (control, 5.26 [5.22-5.30], vs EtOH, 5.34 [5.30-5.38]; P = 0.06). EtOH ingestion resulted in similar plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations compared with rest (control, 0.43 [0.31-0.55] mmol·L-1, vs EtOH, 0.30 [0.21-0.40] mmol·L-1) and during exercise. Plasma lactate concentration was higher during the first 30 min of rest after EtOH consumption (mean concentration; control, 0.83 [0.77-0.90] mmol·L-1, vs EtOH, 1.00 [0.93-1.07] mmol·L-1), but the response during exercise was similar between conditions. Conclusions Muscle glycogen utilization was similar during exercise with or without prior EtOH ingestion, reflected in similar total whole-body carbohydrate oxidation rates observed.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)211-217
Number of pages7
JournalMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
Volume53
Issue number1
Early online date15 Jul 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31 Jan 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors thank the participants for volunteering their time and effort into the study. Further thanks to Rob Edinburgh for helping to get the study up and running. This study was funded by the University of Bath and University of Nottingham.

Publisher Copyright:
© Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Keywords

  • CARBOHYDRATE
  • ETHANOL
  • FAT
  • LACTATE
  • METABOLISM

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation

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