Increased Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Capacity Augments the Myokine Response to Whole Body Vibration

Abstract

Introduction: The role of skeletal muscle health on preventing and ameliorating chronic disease is emerging. The improvements in skeletal muscle metabolism are likely mediated by myokines, such as myostatin, IL-6, and decorin. Whether or not basal skeletal muscle health contributes to the myokine response to Whole body vibration (WBV), an exercise mimetic, has yet to be elucidated. Methods: Data from Sixty-three young adults (32.5± 0.7 years, 57.1% female, 42.9% non-Hispanic Black) were included from a longitudinal twin cohort study. Skeletal muscle oxidative capacity (SMOC) was determined using near-infrared spectroscopy by measuring the rate of skeletal muscle oxygen consumption after stimulation and was represented as a rate constant averaged over three trials (AvgRC). The acute WBV protocol consisted of 10 cycles of 1 min of vibration exercise followed by 30s of standing rest. Blood was collected at baseline (PRE), immediately post, and 1h, 3h, and 24h post WBV and myokine concentrations of IL-6, myostatin, and decorin were measured at each of these timepoints. Participants were divided into two groups by SMOC: low skeletal muscle oxidative capacity (AvgRC textless 1.82) and high skeletal muscle oxidative capacity (AvgRC textgreater 2.13). Results: Participant characteristics including age, BMI, body fat percentage, handgrip, and skeletal muscle index (SMI) were similar between groups. SMOC was positively associated with myostatin at baseline (ß= 564.6, SE=232.4, p=0.045) and 24H following WBV (ß= 661.0, SE=189.4, p=0.029). In addition, a significantly higher overall myostatin (p=0.026) and IL-6 response (p=0.001) to WBV was observed in in the high skeletal muscle oxidative capacity group when compared to the low skeletal muscle oxidative capacity group. Conclusions: Higher skeletal muscle oxidative capacity is associated with a greater myostatin and IL-6 response to acute WBV. These data suggest that a higher SMOC at baseline may positively impact the myokine response to WBV, independent of adiposity, and demonstrates the importance of skeletal muscle health on preventing and ameliorating chronic disease.

Publication
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise

Related