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Relationship between body composition and skeletal muscle eNOS

International Journal of Obesity volume 30, pages 308–312 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

Owing to the relationship between nitric oxide related endothelial dysfunction, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease in overweight individuals, we investigated if skeletal muscle endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein content and activity are lower in overweight than lean women.

Design:

A total of 19 women (age 26.0±1.7 years) underwent a resting muscle biopsy, body composition analysis by hydrostatic weighing and peak aerobic capacity determination using indirect calorimetry (Study 1). An additional separate set of six lean (⩽25% fat) and six overweight (>25% fat) women were subsequently studied for the determination of eNOS activity, and to better control for absolute peak aerobic capacity between lean and overweight women (Study 2).

Results:

Skeletal muscle eNOS content was inversely related to percent body fat (r2=0.58, P<0.01), and body mass index (r2=0.35, P<0.05). Total eNOS activity was lower in overweight than lean women (2.09±0.22 vs 1.44±0.17 U, P<0.05; n=12), and was inversely related to percent body fat (r2=0.32, P=0.05), and BMI (r2=0.41, P<0.05). Absolute and relative aerobic capacity were not independent predictors of skeletal muscle eNOS content (r2=0.11 and 0.26, respectively).

Conclusion:

There is an inverse relationship between eNOS and percent body fat that may have implications for the previously reported reduced endothelial function and insulin sensitivity in overweight women.

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Acknowledgements

Supported by grants (RCH) from the National Institutes of Health (R15 AG18407-01 and R21 AG19209-01A1) and the American Heart Association (9960238U).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Human Performance Laboratory, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

    R C Hickner, G Kemeny, H W Stallings III, S M Manning & K L McIver

  2. Department of Physiology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA

    R C Hickner

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  1. R C Hickner
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  2. G Kemeny
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  4. S M Manning
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Correspondence to R C Hickner.

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Hickner, R., Kemeny, G., Stallings, H. et al. Relationship between body composition and skeletal muscle eNOS. Int J Obes 30, 308–312 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803134

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