THE EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON THE LEVEL OF NON‐ESTERIFIED FATTY ACIDS IN THE BLOOD

Abstract

During a period of one hour's moderate exercise, walking on a treadmill, in the post‐absorptive state, the mean concentration of non‐esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in ten healthy subjects rose from 0–76 to 1–44 m‐mole/ l. This observation is consistent with the view that fat is transported as NEFA from adiposetissue to muscle, as a fuel for exercise. In two patients with hypopituitarism and in three patients after adrenalectomy, plasma NEFA concentration rose in a similar manner on exercise. Possible physiological factors, which may regulate the mobilization of NEFA, are discussed. We wish to acknowledge the help of Mr. David Shirling with these experiments.