Abstract

Muscle glycogen and blood-borne glucose are important substrates for skeletal muscle during exercise and fatigue during endurance exercise often coincides with depletion of these carbohydrate reserves. This review summarises the effects of exercise on skeletal muscle carbohydrate metabolism and some of the important regulatory mechanisms. Factors that influence the utilisation of muscle glycogen and blood glucose during exercise include exercise intensity and duration, training status and diet. The important regulatory mechanisms include local factors within contracting muscle that influence enzyme activity and membrane transport systems, alterations in intramuscular metabolite levels, substrate availability and hormonal regulation, primarily by insulin and adrenaline. The interplay of these factors ensures the appropriate mobilisation and utilisation of glycogen and glucose during exercise. Verf.-Referat