Intramyocellular lipid concentrations in humans: A proton spectroscopy magnetic resonance (¹-MRS) study

The aim of this study was to correlate the intramyocellular triglycerides and the aerobic capacity of runners of medium and long distance through 1H-MRS. Fourteen elite athletes from the Centro de Alto Rendimento Esportivo (CAR, Sant Cugat del Vallés, Spain) were recruited as subjects. The protocol of Daniels and Daniels (1992) was selected to quantify the maximum oxygen uptake (VO2). The subjects performed a sub-maximal test of 5 stages in a treadmill, which was followed by an increase in velocity until fatigue to determine the maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max). The MRS data were provided the spectral parameters to obtain variables in the time domain (distance of the frequency between the signals of IT and ET of similar chemical origin). It was found a negative correlation between muscle triglycerides (IT or ET) and aerobic capacity of the subjects (measured by espirometry). It was concluded that medium and long distance runners present smaller concentrations of IT which is in opposition to the literature.