Liver function in physically trained subjects

Abstract

Physical exercise and physical training are known to affect several aspects of hepatic metabolism. To assess whether adaptation to long-lasting exercise modifies microsomal drug metabolism, 8 long-distance runners were compared with a group of medical students having significantly lower maximal rates of oxygen consumption. At rest the hepatic galactose elimination capacity and the indocyanine green plasma disappearance rate used as reference methods were the same in both groups. The plasma clearance of ([¹⁴C]dimethylamine) aminopyrine and the kinetics of¹⁴CO₂ in breath did not differ either. It is concluded that adaptation to long-lasting exercise can occur without evidence for changes in hepatic galactokinase activity, liver blood flow, or microsomal metabolism of aminopyrine.