Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Communication
  • Published:

Metabolic response to a large starch meal after rest and exercise: comparison between men and women

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 57, pages 1107–1115 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Background: Net whole-body and hepatic de novo lipogenesis could be more active in women than in men, but no comparison has been made between men and women in the two phases of the ovarian cycle after ingestion of a large carbohydrate meal.

Objective: We hypothesized that net whole-body de novo lipogenesis could be larger in women than men, and that glycogen and fat balance could be, respectively, lower and higher, following a large pasta meal ingested after rest or exercise.

Design: The metabolic response to a pasta meal (5 g dry weight/kg body mass) was studied in six men and six women (matched for age and BMI) in the follicular and luteal phases, following rest or exercise (90 min at 50% VO2max). Protein, glucose, and fat oxidation, and net whole-body de novo lipogenesis were computed for 10 h following ingestion of the meal using indirect respiratory calorimetry corrected for urea excretion.

Results: No net whole-body de novo lipogenesis was observed in any group in any situation (postrest and postexercise). When the meal was ingested following exercise, fat oxidation was significantly higher and glucose oxidation was significantly lower (P<0.05) than following the period of rest, and in a given experimental situation, the respective contributions of protein, fat, and glucose oxidation to the energy yield were similar in men and women in both phases of the cycle.

Conclusions: The contribution of substrate oxidation to the energy expenditure as well as fat and glycogen balance, and the effect of a previous exercise period, were similar in men and women in both phases of the cycle following ingestion of the large carbohydrate meal.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acheson KJ, Flatt JP & Jéquier E (1982): Glycogen synthesis versus lipogenesis after a 500 gram carbohydrate meal in man. Metabolism 31, 1234–1240.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Acheson KJ, Schutz Y, Bessard T, Anantharaman K, Flatt JP & Jéquier E (1988): Glycogen storage capacity and de novo lipogenesis during massive carbohydrate overfeeding in man. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 48, 240–247.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Acheson KJ, Schutz Y, Bessard T, Flatt JP & Jéquier E (1987): Carbohydrate metabolism and de novo lipogenesis in human obesity. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 45, 78–85.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Acheson KJ, Schutz Y, Bessard T, Ravussin E, Jéquier E & Flatt JP (1984): Nutritional influences on lipogenesis and thermogenesis after a carbohydrate meal. Am. J. Physiol. 246, 62–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Acheson KJ, Thélin A, Ravussin E, Amaud MJ & Jéquier E (1985): Contribution of 500 g naturally labeled 13C dextrin maltose to total carbohydrate utilization and the effect of the antecedent diet, in man. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 41, 881–890.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bielinski R, Schutz Y & Jéquier E (1985): Energy metabolism during the postexercise recovery in man. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 42, 69–82.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Black AE, Coward WA, Cole TJ & Prentice AM (1996): Human energy expenditure in affluent societies: an analysis of 574 doubly-labelled water measurements. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 50, 72–92.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bowden VL & McMurray RG (2000): Effects of training status on the metabolic responses to high carbohydrate and hight fat meals. Int. J. Sport Nutr. Exerc.Metab. 10, 16–27.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Broeder CE, Brenner M, Hofman Z, Paijmans IJM, Thomas EL & Wilmore JH (1991): The metabolic consequences of low and moderate intensity exercise with or without feeding in lean and borderline obese males. Int. J. Obes. Relat. Metab. Disord. 15, 95–104.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burelle Y, Péronnet F, Charpentier S, Lavoie C, Hillaire-Marcel C & Massicotte D (1999): Oxidation of an oral [13C]glucose load at rest and prolonged exercise in trained and sedentary subjects. J. Appl. Physiol. 86, 52–60.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elia M & Livesey G (1988): Theory and validity of indirect calorimetry during net lipid synthesis. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 47, 591–607.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faix D, Neese RA, Kletke C, Walden S, Cesar D, Goutlangus M, Shackleton CHL & Hellerstein MK (1993): Quantification of periodicities in menstrual and diurnal rates of cholesterol and fat synthesis in humans. J. Lipid Res. 34, 2063–2075.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Folch N, Péronnet F, Massicotte D, Duclos M, Lavoie C & Hillaire-Marcel C (2001): Metabolic response to small and large 13C-labelled pasta meals following rest or exercise in man. Br. J. Nutr. 85, 671–680.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hellerstein MK, Christiansen M, Kaempfer S, Kletke C, Wu K, Reid JS, Mulligan K, Hellerstein NS & Schackleton CHL (1991): Measurement of de novo hepatic lipogenesis in humans using stable isotopes. J. Clin. Invest. 87, 1841–1852.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hilgers TW & Bailey AJ (1980): Natural family planning. II. Basal body temperature and estimated time of ovulation. Obstet. Gynecol. 55, 333–339.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Horton TJ, Drougas H, Brachey A, Reed GW, Peters JC & Hill JO (1995): Fat and carbohydrate overfeeding in humans: different effects on energy storage. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 62, 19–29.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kenagy R, Weinstein I & Heimberg M (1981): The effects of 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone on the metabolism of free fatty acid by perfused livers from normal female and ovariectomized rats. Endocrinology 108,1613–1621.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim H & Kalkhoff RK (1975): Sex steroid influence on triglyceride metabolism. J. Clin. Invest. 56, 888–896.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Korach M, Leclercq P, Péronnet F & Leverve X (2002): Metabolic response to a 13C-glucose load in human immunodeficiency virus patients before and after antiprotease therapy. Metabolism 51, 307–313.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krzentowski G, Pimay F, Luyckx AS, Lacroix M, Morosa F & Lefébvre PJ (1984): Effect of physical training on utilization of a glucose load given orally during exercise. Am. J. Physiol. 246, 412–417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Krzentowski G, Pimay F, Luyckx AS, Pallikarakis N, Lacroix M, Mosora F & Lefébvre PJ (1982): Metabolic adaptations in post-exercise recovery. Clin. Physiol. 2,277–288.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krzentowski G, Pimay F, Luyckx AS, Pallikarakis N, Lacroix M, Mosora F & Lefebvre PJ (1983): Effect of physical training on the oxidation of an oral glucose load at rest: A naturally labeled 13C-glucose study. Diabète Mètab. 9,112–115.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Labayen I, Forga L & Martinez JA (1999): Nutrient oxidation and metabolic rate as affected by meals containing different proportions of carbohydrate and fat, in healthy young women. Eur. J. Nutr. 38, 158–166.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Livesey G & Elia M (1988): Estimation of energy expenditure, net carbohydrate utilization, and net fat oxidation and synthesis by indirect calorimetry: evaluation of errors with special reference to the detailed composition of fuels. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 47, 608–628.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McDevitt RM, Poppitt SD, Murgatroyd PR & Prentice AM (2000): Macronutrient disposal during controlled overfeeding with glucose, fructose, sucrose, or fat in lean and obese women. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 72, 369–377.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Molarius A, Seidell JC, Sans S, Tuomilehto J & Kuulasma K (1999): Varying sensitivity of waist action levels to identify subjects with overweight or obesity in 19 populations of the WHO MONICA project. J. Clin. Epidemiol. 52,1213–1224.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nicklas BJ, Hackney AC & Sharp RL (1989): The menstrual cycle and exercise: performance, muscle, glycogen, and substrate responses. Int. J. Sports Med. 10, 264–269.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nilsson PM, Lind L, Pollare T, Berne C & Lithell H (2000): Differences in insulin sensitivity and risk markers due to gender and age in hypertensives. J. Hum. Hypertension 14, 51–56.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nuutila P, Knuuti J, Mäki M, Laine H, Ruotsalainen U, Teräs M, Haaparanta M, Solin O & Yki-Järvinen H (1995): Gender and insulin sensitivity in the heart and in skeletal muscles. Diabetes 44, 31–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phelain JF, Reinke E, Harris MA & Melby CL (1997): Postexercise energy expenditure and substrate oxidation in young women resulting from exercise bouts of different intensity. J. Am. Coll. Nutr. 16, 140–146.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneiter P, Di Vetta V, Jéquier E & Tappy L (1995): Effect of physical exercise on glycogen turnover and net substrate utilization according to the nutritional state. Am. J. Physiol. 269,1031–1036.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tamopolsky MA, Atkinson SA, Phillips SM & MacDougall JD (1995): Carbohydrate loading and metabolism during exercise in men and women. J. Appl. Physiol. 78, 1360–1368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tamopolsky MA, Zawada C, Richmond LB, Carter S, Shearer J, Graham T & Phillips SM (2001): Gender differences in carbohydrate loading are related to energy intake. J. Appl. Physiol. 91, 225–230.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and from the Fabricants Français de Pâtes Alimentaires, Groupe d'lntérêt Economique: Alimentation Recherche Nutrition (France).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de kinésiologie, Université de Montréal, Centre-Ville, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

    N Folch, F Péronnet & S Charpentier

  2. Département de kinanthropologie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada

    D Massicotte

  3. Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada

    C Lavoie

Authors
  1. N Folch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. F Péronnet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D Massicotte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S Charpentier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. C Lavoie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to F Péronnet.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Folch, N., Péronnet, F., Massicotte, D. et al. Metabolic response to a large starch meal after rest and exercise: comparison between men and women. Eur J Clin Nutr 57, 1107–1115 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601650

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601650

Keywords

Search

Advanced search

Quick links