Blood-fat and Exercise

Abstract

Studies were made after exercise of the amounts in the blood of fat, sugar, cholesterol and of the respiratory quotient by means of the Douglas bag and Haldane gas analysis apparatus. The subjects were healthy students, and the blood specimens were drawn after exercise in the fasting state and after the administration of 100 grams of glucose by mouth. The blood-fat content after exercise in the fasting individual shows a constant increase which does not occur after the ingestion of glucose. A remarkable constancy of the fasting blood-fat content of an individual exists. There is a definite increase in the blood-fat content in fasting individuals immediately after severe exercise, but no increase in the same individuals subjected to similar exercise after ingestion of glucose. Respiratory quotient studies seem to indicate that fat is being mobilized for conversion into carbohydrate. A relationship exists between blood-fat and blood-sugar contents. Blood-cholesterol content was unaffected by exercise and unrelated to the definite blood-fat variations.