Carbohydrate Availability and microRNA Expression

Influence of Carbohydrate Availability on Skeletal Muscle and Circulating microRNA Expression

This investigation will examine the impact of skeletal muscle glycogen stores on skeletal muscle and circulating microRNA expression and exogenous carbohydrate oxidation.

Primary Objective Determine the influence of carbohydrate availability (e.g., glycogen depletion and repletion) on skeletal muscle microRNA expression, and if changes in circulating microRNA are reflective of changes in skeletal muscle microRNA.

Secondary Objective Determine how initiation of exercise with adequate or low glycogen stores effects exogenous carbohydrate efficiency.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Glycogen Depletion
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Adequate Carbohydrate; Other: Low Carbohydrate

Detailed Description

Twelve, normal weight, healthy, physically active men and women will complete a glycogen depletion protocol, cycling at various intensities until failure. Participants will then consume a carbohydrate (CHO: 1 g/kg/hr) or an energy free control (CON) beverage matched for taste and color during the first 3-hr post glycogen depletion. For the remainder of the day participants will consume a diet designed to adequately (6.0 g CHO/kg/d) or inadequately (1.2 g CHO/kg/d) replenish glycogen stores. The following day participants will to complete 80-min of steady-state (~60% VO2peak) cycle ergometry consuming carbohydrate at a rate of 1.8 g/min enriched with a stable isotope of carbon to determine exogenous carbohydrate efficiency when glycogen stores are low or adequate at the onset of exercise.

Following a minimum 7-d washout period volunteers will return to the laboratory to complete the second arm of the investigation. To ensure glycogen stores are similar between volunteers on testing day, 48-hrs prior to testing all volunteers will complete a glycogen depletion protocol and then consume a diet providing 6.0 g/kg/d carbohydrate to replenish glycogen stores.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 12
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Natick, Massachusetts, United States, 01760
      • USARIEM

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 39 years (ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women aged 18 - 39 years
• Weight stable (±5 lbs) for at least 2 months prior to the start of the study
• Body mass index (BMI) between 18.5-30 kg/m2
• Recreationally active based on assessment of physical activity history 2-4 days per week aerobic and/or resistance exercise
• Refrain from taking any NSAIDS (i.e., aspirin, Advil®, Aleve®, Naprosyn®, or any aspirin-containing product for 10 days before and at least 5 days AFTER each muscle biopsy. (*Tylenol® or acetaminophen is ok to use if needed for discomfort)
• Refrain from the use of alcohol and nicotine for the duration of the study
• Females must be on contraception (e.g., oral birth control, NuvaRing®, Depo Provera®, etc.)
• Supervisor approved leave status for federal civilian employees working within the US Army Natick Soldier Systems Center

Exclusion Criteria:

• Metabolic or cardiovascular abnormalities, gastrointestinal disorders (i.e., kidney disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc.)
• Disease or medication (i.e., diabetes medications, statins, corticosteroids, etc) that affects macronutrient utilization and/or the ability to participate in strenuous exercise
• Allergies or intolerance to foods (including but not limited to lactose intolerance/milk allergy), vegetarian practices, or medications (including, but not limited to, lidocaine or phenylalanine) to be utilized in the study
• Anemia (HCT < 38) and Sickle Cell Anemia/Trait
• Abnormal prothrombin time (PT)/ partial thromboplastin time (PTT) test or problems with blood clotting
• Present condition of alcoholism, use of nutritional/sports supplements, anabolic steroids, or other substance abuse issues
• Musculoskeletal injuries that compromise the ability to exercise
• Blood donation within 8 weeks of beginning the study
• Pregnancy

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: CROSSOVER
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
OTHER: Adequate Carbohydrate; Carbohydrate beverage (1 g/kg/hr) Adequate carbohydrate diet 6.0 g/kg/d	Other: Adequate Carbohydrate; During the 3-hr recovery period after glycogen depletion participants will consume a carbohydrate (1 g/kg/hr) beverage For the day participants will consume a diet of 6.0 g/kg/d carbohydrate following glycogen depletion
OTHER: Low Carbohydrate; Non-nutritive control beverage. Low carbohydrate diet 1.2 g/kg/d	Other: Low Carbohydrate; During the 3-hr recovery period after glycogen depletion participants will consume a nutrient free beverage. For the day participants will consume a diet of 1.2 g/kg/d carbohydrate following glycogen depletion

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Fold Change in microRNA Expression From Baseline	Determine the influence of low or adequate glycogen on expression of skeletal muscle and circulating microRNA. Expression of microRNA was determined using real time polymerase chain reaction analysis. microRNA expressions were calculated as a fold change relative to baseline.	24 hours

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Exogenous Carbohydrate Oxidation	Determine how initiation of exercise with adequate or low glycogen stores effects exogenous carbohydrate efficiency. Exogenous carbohydrate oxidation was measured using an oral 13C-glucose isotope that was consumed in the study carbohydrate drink during steady-state cycling. Breath samples were collected during exercise and analyzed using isotope ratio mass spectrometry to calculate exogenous carbohydrate oxidation rates.	80 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): August 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): May 3, 2018
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): May 3, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 19, 2017
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 10, 2017
• First Posted (ACTUAL): August 15, 2017

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): September 2, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 6, 2021
• Last Verified: August 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: microRNA, carbohydrate oxidation
• Other Study ID Numbers: 17-17H

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No