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European journal of applied physiology
Dec, 2024;124 (12): 3661-3670.

Mechanical efficiency: associations with body composition and glycemic profile in healthy adults.

Elisa Marin-Couture, Louis Pérusse, Claude Bouchard, Patrick Schrauwen, Denis R Joanisse, Angelo Tremblay
Author Information
  1. Elisa Marin-Couture: Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, PEPS, Université Laval, Quebec City, G1V 0A6, Canada.
  2. Louis Pérusse: Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, PEPS, Université Laval, Quebec City, G1V 0A6, Canada.
  3. Claude Bouchard: Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
  4. Patrick Schrauwen: Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
  5. Denis R Joanisse: Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, PEPS, Université Laval, Quebec City, G1V 0A6, Canada.
  6. Angelo Tremblay: Department of Kinesiology, Faculty of Medicine, PEPS, Université Laval, Quebec City, G1V 0A6, Canada. angelo.tremblay@kin.ulaval.ca. ORCID
PMID: 39068628 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-024-05528-w

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess the association between net mechanical efficiency (NME) and body composition and glycemic profile, in middle-aged (38.3 ± 14.3 years) participants from the Quebec Family Study (QFS). Analyses were completed on a sample of 605 participants (271 males and 334 females) who performed a submaximal exercise test on an ergometer consisting of three consecutive 6-min workloads at increasing intensity during which respiratory gas exchange was assessed. The calculation of NME [power output/ (vO-vOseated before exercise)] was based on the values of the last 3 min of the first workload at a targeted power output of 30 W. Correlations between NME and dependent variables were computed separately in males and females. Associations between NME and body composition and glucose-insulin variables were assessed by comparing groups of subjects categorized in sex-specific tertiles of NME after adjustments for age. Significant negative correlations were observed between NME and body composition and glycemic profile in both sexes. Comparison across tertiles showed that individuals with high NME displayed more favorable adiposity and glycemic profiles. These differences remained significant after further adjustments for participation in vigorous physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and mean exercise respiratory exchange ratio whereas most differences in glucose-insulin variables became non-significant after further adjustment for percent body fat. QFS familial data indicate that the heritability of NME reaches about 30%. In conclusion, the results of this study show that beyond aerobic fitness and physical activity-participation, mechanical efficiency is an additional activity-related variable that is independently associated with variations in body composition and glycemic profile.

Keywords

Body fat Cardiorespiratory fitness Heredity Obesity Physical activity

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MeSH Term

Humans
Male
Female
Adult
Body Composition
Blood Glucose
Middle Aged
Insulin
Exercise
Oxygen Consumption
Exercise Test

Chemicals

Blood Glucose
Insulin
Journal Article
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Word Cloud

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