Activity of some enzymes of energy metabolism in striated muscle of obese subjects with respect to body composition.

The effect of obesity on the activity of some enzymes of energy supplying metabolism was studied in male and female groups of different body weight, using tissue samples of m. quadriceps femoris obtained by a biopsy needle. Both obese males and females displayed a distinct tendency towards anaerobic metabolism (high lactate dehydrogenase activities). The assumption that cytoplasm has an increased capacity in the muscle of the obese for reduction syntheses is supported by the increased ratio of malate dehydrogenase to citrate synthase activities. Compared with controls, less activity of enzymes associated with fatty acid and glucose degradation (hexokinase, hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, citrate synthase) was observed in obese males. In obese females the latter enzyme activities did not differ from those in the controls; however, lactate dehydrogenase and triosophosphate dehydrogenase activities were significantly higher. Significant inverse correlations between hexokinase and hydroxyacyl- CoA dehydrogenase activities, on the one hand, and indicators of body composition and body weight, on the other, were found in males. The female group did not display analogous significant relations between the enzymatic organization and indicators of body composition.