Single and Joined Behaviour of Circulating Biomarkers and Metabolic Parameters in High-Fit and Low-Fit Healthy Females

Abstract

Biomarkers are important in the assessment of health and disease, but are poorly studied in still healthy individuals with a (potential) different risk for metabolic disease. This study investigated, first, how single biomarkers and metabolic parameters, functional biomarker and metabolic parameter categories, and total biomarker and metabolic parameter profiles behave in young healthy female adults of different aerobic fitness and, second, how these biomarkers and metabolic parameters are affected by recent exercise in these healthy individuals. A total of 102 biomarkers and metabolic parameters were analysed in serum or plasma samples from 30 young, healthy, female adults divided into a high-fit (V̇O2peak ≥ 47 mL/kg/min, N = 15) and a low-fit (V̇O2peak ≤ 37 mL/kg/min, N = 15) group, at baseline and overnight after a single bout of exercise (60 min, 70% V̇O2peak). Our results show that total biomarker and metabolic parameter profiles were similar between high-fit and low-fit females. Recent exercise significantly affected several single biomarkers and metabolic parameters, mostly related to inflammation and lipid metabolism. Furthermore, functional biomarker and metabolic parameter categories corresponded to biomarker and metabolic parameter clusters generated via hierarchical clustering models. In conclusion, this study provides insight into the single and joined behavior of circulating biomarkers and metabolic parameters in healthy females, and identified functional biomarker and metabolic parameter categories that may be used for the characterisation of human health physiology.

Study protocol: Identification and validation of integrative biomarkers of physical activity level and health in children and adolescents (INTEGRActiv)

“…Most studies dealing with the identification of biomarkers of PA and its relation to health have been performed in adults and athletes [e.g., studies ( 6 , 7 )]. Although diseases such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes are generally manifested in adult life, the processes underlying the development of these diseases generally originate in early ages, and childhood and adolescence are critical periods ( 8 ).…”

“…Extensive plasma metabolite profiling can provide an overview of the metabolism with a level of description that goes beyond genetic information and more closely reflects the phenotype, thus helping to connect genotype to phenotype at the molecular level ( 31 ). There is no question that PA affects the metabolome [e.g., ( 7 )], but it is necessary to better understand when these changes occur and for how long they persist. It would also be desirable to identify those biomarkers of PA that indicate and predict metabolic health, including cardiovascular health and propensity to obesity ( 32 ).…”