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Clinical Trial
. 2001 Jun 1;533(Pt 2):585-91.
doi: 10.1111/j.1469-7793.2001.0585a.x.

Carbohydrate ingestion attenuates the increase in plasma interleukin-6, but not skeletal muscle interleukin-6 mRNA, during exercise in humans

R L Starkie  1 , M J Arkinstall, I Koukoulas, J A Hawley, M A Febbraio
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Carbohydrate ingestion attenuates the increase in plasma interleukin-6, but not skeletal muscle interleukin-6 mRNA, during exercise in humans

R L Starkie et al. J Physiol. .

Abstract

1. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of exercise and carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion on interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression in skeletal muscle and plasma IL-6 concentration. 2. Seven moderately trained men completed 60 min of exercise at a workload corresponding to each individual's lactate threshold on four randomised occasions. Two trials were conducted on a bicycle ergometer (Cyc) and two on a running treadmill (Run) either with (CHO) or without (Con) the ingestion of a CHO beverage throughout the exercise. Muscle biopsies were obtained from the vastus lateralis before and immediately after exercise and IL-6 gene expression in these samples was determined using real-time PCR. In addition, venous blood samples were collected at rest, and after 30 min during and at the cessation of exercise. These samples were analysed for plasma IL-6. 3. Irrespective of exercise mode or CHO ingestion, exercise resulted in a 21 +/- 4-fold increase (P < 0.01; main exercise effect) in IL-6 mRNA expression. In contrast, while the mode of exercise did not affect the exercise-induced increase in plasma IL-6, CHO ingestion blunted (P < 0.01) this response. 4. These data demonstrate that CHO ingestion attenuates the plasma IL-6 concentration during both cycling and running exercise. However, because IL-6 mRNA expression was unaffected by CHO ingestion, it is likely that the ingestion of CHO during exercise attenuates IL-6 production by tissues other than skeletal muscle.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Plasma glucose concentrations during 60 min of cycling (Cyc) or running (Run) exercise either with (CHO) or without (Con) the ingestion of a CHO solution during exercise
Values are means ± s.e.m. (n = 7). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, † P < 0.001, Con significantly different from CHO trial.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Muscle glycogen content prior to (Pre) and following (Post) 60 min of cycling (Cyc) or running (Run) exercise either with (CHO) or without (Con) the ingestion of a CHO solution during exercise
Values are means ± s.e.m. (n = 7). **P < 0.01, main time effect Post different from Pre.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Change in IL-6 mRNA expression in human skeletal muscle from pre-exercise to post-exercise following 60 min of cycling (Cyc) or running (Run) exercise either with (CHO) or without (Con) the ingestion of a CHO solution during exercise
Values are means ± s.e.m. (n = 7). **P < 0.01, main time effect.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Plasma IL-6 concentration prior to (Rest), after 30 min and immediately following 60 min of cycling (Cyc) or running (Run) exercise with (CHO) or without (Con) the ingestion of a CHO solution throughout exercise
Values are means ± s.e.m. (n = 7). **P < 0.01, main time effect post-exercise different from pre-exercise. *P < 0.01, time × drink interaction.
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