Glycogen and appetite
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effect of suppression of adipose lipolysis on GLP-1 and energy intake in men and women
IRAS ID
310548
Contact name
Louise Bradshaw
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bath
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Obesity is the outcome of chronic excessive energy intake and reduced energy expenditure leading to energy imbalance. It is a risk factor for many preventable diseases such as metabolic disease and its consequences such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease with observational data consistently showing obesity is associated with increased all-cause mortality rates. Sedentary adults have been shown to have an increased appetite in excess of energy requirements and adults who are more active are able to better regulate energy intake. It is thought that carbohydrate availability and specifically hepatic glycogen utilisation during exercise is a regulator of appetite. However, the majority of research so far does not support this theory, potentially due to research not examining the tissue-specific link between glycogen use and appetite. The aim of this study is to assess whether altering substrate utilisation during exercise by supressing lipolysis influences GLP-1 levels and caloric intake post exercise. Additionally, the study will explore if there is a tissue specific link between substrate utilisation and post exercise energy intake and examine potential sex differences. Niacin or a high carbohydrate drink will be given to participants to suppress fat oxidation during a 60-minute cycle at lactate threshold in a cross-over design with fasted exercise as the control. Muscle biopsies will be taken before and after the exercise to assess glycogen use with blood samples taken throughout to assess GLP-1. An ad libitum meal will be provided 2 hours after exercise and energy intake recorded.
REC name
South West - Central Bristol Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/SW/0062
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jun 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion