Int J Sports Med 2003; 24(5): 320-325
DOI: 10.1055/s-2003-40708
Physiology & Biochemistry
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Short- and Long-Term Detraining on the Metabolic Response to Endurance Exercise

C.  Petibois1, 2 , G.  Déléris1
  • 1INSERM U443, Groupe de Chimie Bio-Organique, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France
  • 2Faculté des Sciences du Sport et de l’Education Physique, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Talence, France
Further Information

Publication History

Accepted after revision: January 20, 2003

Publication Date:
17 July 2003 (online)

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Abstract

Changes in the metabolic response to an endurance exercise were studied (18 rowing km at 75 % of maximal aerobic velocity) during detraining in ten rowers previously highly-trained. Maximal aerobic velocity (V˙O2max) and the metabolic response to exercise were determined in the 1st, 24th, and 47th week (training), and in the 52nd, 76th, and 99th week (detraining). Over the decrease of V˙O2max, detraining induced a biphasic alteration of the previously observed training adaptations: 1-short-term detraining (5 weeks) resulted in a lower adipose tissue triglyceride (TG) delivery during exercise (p = 0.029), but this one did not represent a direct metabolic limit to exercise since the liver TG delivery increased (p = 0.039), allowing that total fatty acid concentration remained unchanged (12.1 ± 2.4 vs. 11.8 ± 2.1 mmol/l; weeks 47 vs. 52); 2-long-term detraining (52 weeks) altered even more the metabolic response to exercise with a decreased total fatty acid concentration during exercise (week 99: 10.6 ± 2.0 mmol/l; p = 0.022), which induced a higher glycolysis utilization. At this moment, a hemolytic response to endurance exercise was observed through haptoglobin and transferrin concentration changes (weeks 47 vs. 99; p = 0.029 and 0.027, respectively), which resulted probably from higher red blood cell destruction. Endurance-trained athletes should avoid detraining periods over a few weeks since alterations of the metabolic adaptations to training may become rapidly chronic after such delays.

References

Dr. C. Petibois

Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2 · Faculté des Sciences du Sport et de l’Education Physique

Av. Camille Julian · 33405 Talence · France ·

Phone: +33 557571002

Fax: +33 557571002

Email: cyril.petibois@bioorga.u-bordeaux2.fr