Question

Describe the reasons why endurance training increases fat oxidation during exercise.

Answer 1

Ans :-) During endurance training to perform regular physical activity fat oxidation is increased. Training will upregulate the enzyme of fat oxidation pathways, increase mitochondrial mass, increase blood flow etc all of which enable higher rate of fat oxidation.

It is well known that well trained endurance athletes have an increased capacity to oxidise fat. This enables them to use fat as fuel when their carbohydrate store become limited.

Fats are mostly stored in adipose tissue and also some amount in muscle itself. At the onset of exercise, neuronal stimulation will increase lipolysis in adipose tissue and muscles. Catecholamines may also rise and contribute to stimulation of lipolysis.

As the exercise begins, fatty acid are mobilised. Adipose tissue fatty acid are to be transported from fat cells to the muscle, be transported across the muscle membrane and then transported across mitochondrial membrane for oxidation. During exercise a mixture of fatty acid derived from adipocytes and intramuscular stores is used.