Weber Dirk, Ferrario Paola G, Bub Achim
Institute of Sports and Sports Science, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Engler-Bunte-Ring 15, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Department of Physiology and Biochemistry of Nutrition, Max Rubner-Institute, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Metabolomics. 2025 May 7;21(3):63. doi: 10.1007/s11306-025-02260-0.
Exercise metabolomics research has revealed significant exercise-induced metabolic changes and identified several exerkines as mediators of physiological adaptations to exercise. However, the effect of exercise intensity on metabolic changes and circulating exerkine levels remains to be examined.
This study compared the metabolic responses to moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise.
A two-period crossover trial was conducted under controlled conditions at the Max Rubner-Institute in Karlsruhe, Germany. Seventeen young, healthy, and physically active men performed 30 min moderate-intensity (50% VO) and vigorous-intensity (75% VO) aerobic exercise using two bicycle ergometer protocols in a randomized sequence. Blood samples obtained immediately before exercise and at four time points after exercise were analyzed in an untargeted metabolomics approach, and separate linear mixed models were applied to over 1000 metabolites.
Vigorous-intensity exercise induced a greater metabolic response than moderate-intensity exercise. Several intensity-dependent metabolites were identified, primarily involved in amino acid metabolism and energy conversion pathways, including N-lactoyl-amino acids, TCA cycle intermediates, N-acetylated amino acids, and acylcholines. The exerkines N-lactoyl-phenylalanine, lactate, and succinate were among the most intensity-dependent metabolites. N-acetylated amino acids and acylcholines were systematically altered by exercise intensity, indicating potential physiological functions.
Exercise intensity significantly affects exercise-induced metabolic alterations and changes in exerkine levels. Our results expand the knowledge about exerkine dynamics and emphasize the role of exercise intensity in promoting physiological adaptations to exercise. The trial was registered on October 5, 2017, at the German Clinical Trials Register under the Registration Number DRKS00009743 (Universal Trial Number of WHO: U1111-1200-2530).
运动代谢组学研究揭示了运动引起的显著代谢变化，并确定了几种运动因子作为运动生理适应的介质。然而，运动强度对代谢变化和循环运动因子水平的影响仍有待研究。
本研究比较了中等强度和高强度有氧运动的代谢反应。
在德国卡尔斯鲁厄的马克斯·鲁布纳研究所的可控条件下进行了一项两阶段交叉试验。17名年轻、健康且有体育锻炼习惯的男性，按照随机顺序，使用两种自行车测力计方案，分别进行了30分钟的中等强度（50%VO₂）和高强度（75%VO₂）有氧运动。在运动前即刻以及运动后的四个时间点采集血样，采用非靶向代谢组学方法进行分析，并对1000多种代谢物应用了单独的线性混合模型。
高强度运动比中等强度运动引起更大的代谢反应。确定了几种强度依赖性代谢物，主要参与氨基酸代谢和能量转换途径，包括N-乳酰氨基酸、三羧酸循环中间体、N-乙酰化氨基酸和酰基胆碱。运动因子N-乳酰苯丙氨酸、乳酸和琥珀酸是最具强度依赖性的代谢物之一。N-乙酰化氨基酸和酰基胆碱因运动强度而发生系统性改变，表明其具有潜在的生理功能。
运动强度显著影响运动引起的代谢改变和运动因子水平变化。我们的研究结果扩展了关于运动因子动态变化的知识，并强调了运动强度在促进运动生理适应中的作用。该试验于2017年10月5日在德国临床试验注册中心注册，注册号为DRKS00009743（世界卫生组织通用试验编号：U1111-1200-2530）。
