Leg free fatty acid kinetics during exercise in men and women

We previously reported that epinephrine stimulates leg free fatty acid (FFA ) release in men but not in women. The present studies were conducted to de termine whether the same is true during exercise. Six men and six women bic ycled for 90 min at 45% of peak O-2 consumption, during which time systemic and leg FFA kinetics ([9,10-H-3]palmitate) were measured. The catecholamin e and hormonal responses to exercise were not different in men and women. T he baseline systemic and leg palmitate release was 94 +/- 15 vs. 114 +/- 5 mu mol/min and 16 +/- 2 and 20 +/- 3 mu mol/min, respectively, in men and w omen [P = nonsignificant (NS)]. Systemic and leg palmitate release increase d (both P < 0.001) to 251 +/- 18 us. 212 +/- 16 mu mol/min and 73 +/- 19 vs . 80 +/- 12 mu mol/min in men and women, respectively, during the last 30 m in of exercise (P = NS, men vs. women). We conclude that the systemic and l eg adipose tissue lipolytic response to exercise is not different in nonobe se men and women.