Peak fat oxidation is positively associated with vastus lateralis CD36 content, fed-state exercise fat oxidation, and endurance performance in trained males.

PURPOSE: Whole-body fat oxidation during exercise can be measured non-invasively during athlete profiling. Gaps in understanding exist in the relationships between fat oxidation during incremental fasted exercise and skeletal muscle parameters, endurance performance, and fat oxidation during prolonged fed-state exercise.
METHODS: Seventeen endurance-trained males underwent a (i) fasted, incremental cycling test to assess peak whole-body fat oxidation (PFO), (ii) resting vastus lateralis microbiopsy, and (iii) 30-min maximal-effort cycling time-trial preceded by 2-h of fed-state moderate-intensity cycling to assess endurance performance and fed-state metabolism on separate occasions within one week.
RESULTS: PFO (0.58 ± 0.28 g.min-1) was associated with vastus lateralis citrate synthase activity (69.2 ± 26.0 μmol.min-1.g-1 muscle protein, r = 0.84, 95% CI 0.58, 0.95, P < 0.001), CD36 abundance (16.8 ± 12.6 μg.g-1 muscle protein, rs = 0.68, 95% CI 0.31, 1.10, P = 0.01), pre-loaded 30-min time-trial performance (251 ± 51 W, r = 0.76, 95% CI 0.40, 0.91, P = 0.001; 3.2 ± 0.6 W.kg-1, r = 0.62, 95% CI 0.16, 0.86, P = 0.01), and fat oxidation during prolonged fed-state cycling (r = 0.83, 95% CI 0.57, 0.94, P < 0.001). Addition of PFO to a traditional model of endurance (peak oxygen uptake, power at 4 mmol.L-1 blood lactate concentration, and gross efficiency) explained an additional ~ 2.6% of variation in 30-min time-trial performance (adjusted R2 = 0.903 vs. 0.877).
CONCLUSION: These associations suggest non-invasive measures of whole-body fat oxidation during exercise may be useful in the physiological profiling of endurance athletes.

Introduction

Non-invasive estimates of whole-body peak fat oxidation rate (PFO) during incremental exercise can be obtained as part of physiological profiling assessments in endurance sport (Maunder et al. 2018b). However, the utility of PFO estimates for gaining insight into skeletal muscle characteristics, fuel utilisation responses during training and competition, and performance in long-duration events in which glycogen stores may become limiting are not well-established.

Associations have been observed between PFO and various skeletal muscle characteristics, including type I fibre percentage and capillary density, mitochondrial protein content and enzyme activities, and enzymes involved in β-oxidation and intramuscular triacylglycerol hydrolysis (Nordby et al. 2006; Stisen et al. 2006; Dandanell et al. 2018; Shaw et al. 2020). Abundance of fatty acid transport proteins membrane-associated fatty acid-binding protein (FABPpm) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1B (CPT1B) have been associated with PFO (Chrzanowski-Smith et al. 2021). However, the relationship between PFO and abundance of fatty acid transport protein cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) has not been assessed. Abundance of CD36 may be an influential determinant of PFO given whole-muscle and mitochondrial CD36 abundance increased in response to exercise training concomitant with increased whole-body fat oxidation during exercise (Talanian et al. 2010). Therefore, assessing the association between PFO and CD36 abundance has implications for further understanding the metabolic regulation of PFO.

Relationships between fat oxidation and endurance performance have been proposed, but not well established in original research (Maunder et al. 2018a). One laboratory-based study in which dietary macronutrient composition was manipulated indicated a possible influence of PFO on 100-km cycling time-trial performance, though this was not statistically significant (Rowlands and Hopkins 2002). Weak associations between PFO during fasted incremental cycling and endurance performance in field-based, multi-sport events have been observed, although between-subject pre- or during-competition controls were not employed (Frandsen et al. 2017; Vest et al. 2019). As fat oxidation is influenced by feeding status (Coyle et al. 1997; Horowitz et al. 1997; Bergman and Brooks 1999), and increases over time during prolonged exercise (Ahlborg et al. 1974; Watt et al. 2002, 2006), PFO measured during fasted, incremental exercise may not reflect metabolic responses to the prolonged, fed-state exercise typically performed in competition. Indeed, relationships between PFO and fat oxidation during prolonged, fed-state exercise are poorly understood. Investigating these associations may provide insight into the utility of PFO as a routine measurement in endurance sport.

Therefore, the aim of the present investigation was to assess relationships between PFO measured during fasted incremental cycling, skeletal muscle CD36 abundance, endurance performance, and fat oxidation rates during prolonged moderate-intensity fed-state exercise. A second aim was to determine if inclusion of PFO improves models of endurance performance. We hypothesised PFO would be positively related to skeletal muscle CD36 abundance, endurance performance, and fat oxidation rates during prolonged moderate-intensity fed-state exercise, and that addition of PFO to a model containing peak oxygen uptake (O2 peak), power at 4 mmol.L−1 blood lactate concentration, and gross efficiency would improve model fit.

Methods

Ethical approval

This study was performed in accordance with the standards of the Declaration of Helsinki, 2013, and the data presented here were collected as part of a larger study. The Auckland University of Technology Ethics Committee approved all procedures (19/146), and all participants provided written informed consent prior to participation. This study was not registered in a database. Data associated with this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Participants

Seventeen endurance-trained male cyclists and triathletes took part in the present investigation (age 34 ± 7 years; height, 181 ± 8 cm; body mass, 80.5 ± 9.6 kg; sum of 8 skinfolds, 71 ± 29 mm; recent training volume, 8 ± 2 h.week−1; first ventilatory threshold, 206 ± 39 W; second ventilatory threshold, 265 ± 54 W; O2 peak, 4.3 ± 0.7 L.min−1). The present study includes pre-intervention data from a prior study of the effects of heat training on endurance performance (Maunder et al. 2021). Due to the onset of a nationwide COVID-19 lock-down, some data from some participants were missed. The actual sample size is indicated in the relevant section. Post hoc statistical power estimates were made for primary outcome measures using the ‘pwr’ R package. Using observed correlations, sample sizes, and an alpha-level of 0.05 for relationships between observed PFO and CD36 abundance, fat oxidation during prolonged fed-state exercise, and pre-loaded 30-min time-trial performance (W), achieved power estimates were 0.77, 0.99, and 0.94, respectively. This study was conducted during a maintenance phase of training in all participants.

Study design

A cross-sectional design was used in the present investigation. Participants visited the laboratory on three occasions, ~ 48 h apart, for an: (i) incremental cycling test after an overnight fast, (ii) resting muscle microbiopsy, and (iii) endurance performance assessment. The order of visits was not randomised as the incremental test data were used to define the power output during the pre-load phase prior to the time-trial in the endurance performance assessment.

Incremental cycling test

Participants arrived for the incremental cycling test at ~ 07:00 having fasted overnight and refrained from alcohol consumption and vigorous exercise for 24 h. Height and body mass were recorded. Cycling then commenced at 95 W, with the power output increasing by 35 W every 3 min (Excalibur Sport, Lode, Groningen, NET). Expired gases were collected throughout (TrueOne2400, ParvoMedics, Sandy, UT, US), and the last minute at each power output was used to estimate whole-body carbohydrate (CHO) and fat oxidation rates, and energy expenditure, using standard non-protein stoichiometric equations (Jeukendrup and Wallis 2005). The PFO was identified as the highest observed rate of whole-body fat oxidation during the incremental cycling test (Achten et al. 2002), and using individual fat oxidation vs. power output models obtained via a second-order polynomial function (Frandsen et al. 2019) in R (version 4.0.4) with RStudio (version 1.1463). Gross efficiency was calculated as the percentage of whole-body energy expenditure converted into mechanical work at 165 W (Moseley and Jeukendrup 2001). A capillary blood sample was obtained from a finger at the end of each 3-min stage and analysed for blood lactate concentration (Lactate Pro 2, Arkray, Tokyo, Japan). When blood lactate concentration was > 4 mmol.L−1, the duration at each power output was reduced to 1 min until volitional exhaustion. Power output at 4 mmol.L−1 blood lactate concentrations were calculated using available software (Lactate Dashboard 1.1.1, https://shiny.fmattioni.me/lactate/), which hosts R code for the calculation of lactate threshold parameters described in recent work (Jamnick et al. 2018). The first ventilatory threshold (VT1) was estimated as the work rate at which the ventilatory equivalent for oxygen (E.O2−1) began to increase in the absence of changes in the ventilatory equivalent for carbon dioxide (E.CO2−1) (Lucía et al. 2000). The O2 peak was defined as the highest 15-s oxygen consumption (O2). Following the incremental cycling test, participants performed a self-paced 30-min time-trial (TT) to act as familiarisation prior to the endurance performance assessment. Participants were also provided with ‘base’ CHO (e.g. pasta, rice, noodles, rolled oats) to provide 1 g.kg−1 for dinner at ~ 20:00 the evening before, and 1 g.kg−1 for breakfast 2 h prior to, the endurance performance assessment, to ensure participants completed the trial in a fed-state. Participants were permitted to add to these ‘base’ foods at these meals such that total CHO intake at these two meals combined was 2.5–3.0 g.kg−1.

Muscle microbiopsy

Participants arrived at the laboratory ~ 48 h following the incremental cycling test at ~ 9:00 having fasted overnight. A muscle microbiopsy was then obtained from the vastus lateralis using the microbiopsy technique (Hayot et al. 2005). Briefly, local anaesthesia was applied to the skin and superficial muscle fascia, after which a microbiopsy needle was inserted into the mid-belly of the vastus lateralis to a depth of ~ 2 cm to recover ~ 15–20 mg of tissue using a spring-loaded mechanism (14G Ultimate Biopsy Needle, Zamar Care, Croatia). Muscle tissue was immediately frozen using dry ice, and stored at − 80 °C until further analysis.

Endurance performance assessment

Participants arrived at the laboratory ~ 48 h following the muscle microbiopsy at ~ 08:00, having avoided vigorous exercise in that time, and having had their evening meal at ~ 20:00 the night before, and morning meal ~ 2 h beforehand. Sum of eight skinfold thickness was then determined by an International Society of Kinathropometry accredited anthropometrist (triceps brachii, biceps brachii, subscapular, iliac crest, supraspinale, abdominal, anterior thigh, posterior shank).

Cycling then commenced for 2 h in a temperature-controlled laboratory (18 °C and 60% relative humidity) on an ergometer (Excalibur Sport, Lode, Groningen, NET) at 80% of the power output at VT1. Convective airflow was provided by an industrial fan (FS-75, FWL, Auckland, NZ). Participants consumed 60 g.h−1 of glucose in 7.5% liquid solutions at 15-min intervals throughout the constant-load phase. Expired gases were collected for 4 min every 15 min using a metabolic cart (TrueOne2400, ParvoMedics, Sandy, UT, US), with the last 3 min of each sample used to estimate whole-body CHO and fat oxidation rates using standard non-protein stoichiometric equations (Jeukendrup and Wallis 2005). The mean of these values was used to represent prolonged fed-state fat oxidation during the pre-load phase prior to the TT. Upon completion of the 2-h constant-load phase, a 30-min maximal-effort TT was performed (IndoorTrainer, SRM, Jülich, Germany). During the TT participants were blinded to power and HR, but informed of the time remaining every 10 min and with 5- and 1-min remaining.

Muscle analysis

Frozen muscle samples were rinsed and suspended to 25 mg.mL−1 in cold phosphate-buffered saline, and ground manually using a pre-cooled glass Dounce homogeniser. Homogenate was solubilised with extraction buffer (ab260490, Abcam®) to 5 mg.mL−1 and incubated on ice for 20 min prior to centrifugation at 16,000g for 20 min at 4 °C. Supernatant was extracted and stored at − 80 °C prior to further analysis. A Bradford assay for sample protein concentration was subsequently performed in duplicate (intra-assay within-standard deviation coefficient of variation [CV], 3.7%). Briefly, a Coomassie blue G reagent was added to protein standards and samples, and optical density was measured on a spectrophotometer at 595 nm (ab102535, Abcam®). Citrate synthase (CS) activity was determined via a kinetic immunocapture assay (ab119692, Abcam®). Abundance of CD36 was determined via an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ab267614, Abcam®). These assays were performed using commercially available kits in duplicate according to the manufacturer’s instructions on a spectrophotometer (Multiskan GO, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Porto Salvo, POR). Achieved intra-assay CVs were 5.6% for CS activity and 9.8% for CD36 concentration, both expressed relative to total muscle protein concentration.

Statistical analysis

Sample data are expressed mean ± standard deviation. The PFO and fat oxidation during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise was compared using a paired t test. Relationships between PFO, fat oxidation during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise, vastus lateralis CS activity, and 30-min TT performance (expressed in absolute [W] and relative [W.kg−1] units) were assessed using Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficients (r). A Grubb’s test revealed a significant outlier for vastus lateralis CD36 abundance (52.0 μg.g−1 muscle protein, Z = 2.656, P < 0.05), so relationships between this and the other variables were assessed using Spearman’s rank-order correlation coefficients (r). Correlations are presented with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and P values. To further assess the utility of PFO as a performance parameter that can be measured during routine physiological profiling assessments, a stepwise linear regression was performed in R using the ‘stepAIC’ function. The dependent variable was 30-min TT performance (W), while traditional performance profiling metrics and observed PFO (g.min−1) were used as independent variables. The traditional profiling metrics were O2 peak (mL.kg−1.min−1), power at 4 mmol.L−1 blood lactate concentration (W), and gross cycling efficiency (GE) at 165 W (%). These variables were selected in line with previously established models of endurance performance (Joyner and Coyle 2008; McLaughlin et al. 2010). The stepwise model selection process involved forward inclusion and backward elimination to identify the most predictive and parsimonious model, using the Akaike information criterion (AIC). We then compared the optimal model resulting from the stepwise procedure (which contained PFO as a predictor), with a model only containing traditional profiling metrics (i.e. that containing O2 peak, power at 4 mmol.L−1 blood lactate concentration, and GE at 165 W). As these two models were not nested, this was done with an encompassing test (i.e. against the overall model containing all four independent variables), using the ‘lmtest’ R package. Model assumptions were checked using the ‘performance’ R package. For all models, standardised (beta) regression coefficients were obtained using the ‘lm.beta’ R package. Analyses were performed in R (version 4.4.0) with RStudio (version 1.1463). Statistical significance was inferred when P ≤ 0.05.

Results

The PFO during fasted, incremental cycling was 0.58 ± 0.28 g.min−1 using observed values (range 0.32–1.00 g.min−1), and 0.58 ± 0.28 g.min−1 using modelled values (range 0.31–1.07 g.min−1, P = 0.46). Selected responses at observed PFO are shown in Table 1. Both observed and modelled PFO values were significantly greater than average fat oxidation during 2-h of fed-state, constant-load cycling at 80% of VT1 was 0.32 ± 0.16 g.min−1 (range 0.16–0.71 g.min−1, Fig. 1, both P < 0.001). Vastus lateralis CD36 abundance was 16.8 ± 12.6 μg.g−1 muscle protein (range 6.3–52.0 μg.g−1 muscle protein). Vastus lateralis CS activity was 69.2 ± 26.0 μmol.min−1.g−1 muscle protein (range 41.3–132.3 μmol.min−1.g−1 muscle protein). Power output during the 30-min TT was 251 ± 51 W (range 196–367 W), or 3.2 ± 0.6 W.kg−1 body mass (range 2.5–4.9 W.kg−1). Linear relationships between outcome measures are reported in Table 2. As relationships between PFO estimated according to observed and modelled values and other outcome measures were similar, observed PFO values are referred to herein. Relationships between observed PFO and outcome measures are shown graphically in Fig. 2.

Table 1

Selected responses measured at the observed peak fat oxidation rate

Variable	Mean ± SD
V˙O2 (L.min−1)	1.98 ± 0.64
V˙O2 (% of peak)	46 ± 10
V˙CO2 (L.min−1)	1.63 ± 0.54
PetCO2 (mmHg)	36.4 ± 2.2
V˙E.V˙CO2−1	24.9 ± 2.1
Blood [La−] (mmol.L−1)	1.4 ± 0.4
Cadence (revs.min−1)	82 ± 4

Fig. 1

Comparison of peak fat oxidation during fasted incremental cycling estimated using observed and modelled values, and average fat oxidation during 2-h of fed-state cycling at 80% of the first ventilatory threshold. Bars indicate group mean and lines indicate individual responses. ‘§’ indicates P < 0.001 vs. average fat oxidation during 2-h of fed-state cycling at 80% of the first ventilatory threshold

Table 2

Bivariate associations between outcome measures in this study

	Prolonged FO	CD36 abundance	CS activity	TT (W)	TT (W.kg−1)
Incremental PFO (observed) (g.min−1)	r = 0.83 (0.57, 0.94) P < 0.001 N = 16	rs = 0.68 (0.31, 1.10) P = 0.01 N = 13	r = 0.84 (0.58, 0.95) P < 0.001 N = 15	r = 0.76 (0.40, 0.91) P = 0.001 N = 15	r = 0.62 (0.16, 0.86) P = 0.01 N = 15
Incremental PFO (modelled) (g.min−1)	r = 0.84 (0.59, 0.94) P < 0.001 N = 16	rs = 0.59 (0.22, 1.11) P = 0.03 N = 13	r = 0.83 (0.56, 0.94) P < 0.001 N = 15	r = 0.75 (0.38, 0.91) P = 0.001 N = 15	r = 0.61 (0.14, 0.86) P = 0.02 N = 15
Incremental PFO (observed) (g.min−1.kg−1 BM)	r = 0.84 (0.59, 0.94) P < 0.001 N = 16	rs = 0.66 (0.20, 1.11) P = 0.02 N = 13	r = 0.89 (0.69, 0.96) P < 0.001 N = 15	r = 0.69 (0.27, 0.89) P = 0.005 N = 15	r = 0.71 (0.32, 0.90) P = 0.003 N = 15
Prolonged FO		rs = 0.21 (− 0.47, 1.04) P = 0.48 N = 13	r = 0.90 (0.73, 0.96) P < 0.001 N = 16	r = 0.58 (0.12, 0.84) P = 0.02 N = 16	r = 0.56 (0.08, 0.82) P = 0.03 N = 16
CD36 abundance			rs = 0.24 (− 0.46, 0.86) P = 0.43 N = 13	rs = 0.61 (− 0.02, 1.14) P = 0.04 N = 12	rs = 0.22 (− 0.37, 1.00) P = 0.49 N = 12
CS activity				r = 0.53 (0.03, 0.82) P = 0.04 N = 15	r = 0.62 (0.15, 0.86) P = 0.01 N = 15
TT (W)					r = 0.86 (0.63, 0.95) P < 0.001 N = 16

BM  body mass, CS   vastus lateralis citrate synthase activity expressed per unit of muscle protein, CD36  vastus lateralis cluster of differentiation 36 abundance expressed per unit of muscle protein, FO  whole-body fat oxidation rate during 2 h of fed-state constant-load cycling at the first ventilatory threshold with carbohydrate feeding expressed in g.min−1, PFO peak whole-body fat oxidation rate during incremental cycling expressed in g.min−1, TT  average power during a 30-min maximal-effort time-trial preceded by 2 h of constant-load cycling at the first ventilatory threshold

Fig. 2

Relationships between peak fat oxidation during fasted, incremental cycling using observed values and a average fat oxidation during 2-h of fed-state cycling at 80% of the first ventilatory threshold (VT1), b vastus lateralis CD36 abundance, c vastus lateralis CS activity, d 30-min time-trial performance expressed in Watts, and e 30-min time-trial performance expressed in Watts per kilogram of body mass

r = 0.68

r = 0.59

r = 0.66

r = 0.21

r = 0.24

r = 0.22

The stepwise regression removed GE and identified the model containing O2 peak, power at 4 mmol.L−1 blood lactate concentration, and observed PFO as the most predictive and parsimonious of pre-loaded 30-min TT performance (adjusted R2 = 0.900, AIC = 86.41, P < 0.001), explaining 90.0% of the variation (Table 3). The traditional model (V̇O2 peak, power at 4 mmol.L−1 blood lactate concentration, and GE at 165 W) explained 87.7% of the variation in pre-loaded 30-min TT performance (adjusted R2 = 0.877, AIC = 90.18, P < 0.001). The overall model containing all four independent variables explained 90.3% of the variation in 30-min TT performance (adjusted R2 = 0.903, AIC = 86.52, P < 0.001). The encompassing test revealed the stepwise model did not perform significantly differently compared to the overall model containing all four independent variables (P = 0.27), but approached significance (P = 0.06) when comparing the traditional model to the overall model.

Table 3

Summary of regression models of pre-loaded 30-min time-trial performance (W)

Descriptor	AIC	Adjusted R2	P	Input variable	Unstandardised coefficient	Standardised coefficient
Overall	86.52	0.903	< 0.001	V̇O2peak	3.109	0.460
				Power at 4 mmol.L−1	0.395	0.419
				GE	3.729	0.102
				PFO	59.057	0.236
Traditional	90.18	0.877	< 0.001	V˙O2 peak	3.481	0.497
				Power at 4 mmol.L−1	0.519	0.558
				GE	3.578	0.096
Stepwise	86.41	0.900	< 0.001	V˙O2 peak	2.817	0.417
				Power at 4 mmol.L−1	0.405	0.430
				PFO	61.878	0.248

Independent variables used in the model were O2 peak (mL.kg−1.min−1), power at 4 mmol.L−1 blood lactate concentration (W), gross efficiency at 165 W (GE, %), and observed peak fat oxidation rate (PFO, g.min−1). The traditional model did not use observed PFO. The bold model has the lowest Akaike information criterion (AIC), and was, therefore, selected as the best and most parsimonious model fit

Discussion

The aim of the present investigation was to assess relationships between PFO measured during fasted incremental cycling, skeletal muscle CD36 abundance, endurance performance, and fat oxidation during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise in the fed-state in endurance-trained males. The main findings were that: (i) PFO had moderate-to-strong associations with vastus lateralis CD36 abundance and CS activity, (ii) PFO had moderate-to-strong associations with 30-min TT performance preceded by 2 h of moderate-intensity cycling, (iii) addition of PFO to a traditional model of endurance containing O2 peak, power at 4 mmol.L−1 blood lactate concentration, and GE explained an additional ~ 2.6% of variation in 30-min TT performance, with standardised coefficients indicating that PFO contributed more than twice as much to the model as GE, and (iv) PFO had a strong association with whole-body fat oxidation during two-hours of moderate-intensity, fed-state cycling with CHO feeding.

In line with our hypotheses, PFO was significantly associated with vastus lateralis CD36 abundance (r = 0.68, 95% CI 0.31, 1.10, P = 0.01) and CS activity (r = 0.84, 95% CI 0.58, 0.95, P < 0.001). Previous research has observed relationships between PFO and CS activity and other mitochondrial markers, such as mitochondrial volume density and OXPHOS subunit protein content (Nordby et al. 2006; Stisen et al. 2006; Dandanell et al. 2018; Shaw et al. 2020). The positive association between PFO and vastus lateralis CD36 abundance in the present investigation is to our knowledge a novel observation (Table 2), and adds to recent research reporting associations between PFO and abundance of FABPpm and CPT1B (Chrzanowski-Smith et al. 2021). It is likely the relationship between PFO and whole-muscle CD36 abundance is explained by capacity for CD36 translocation, given CD36 translocates to the sarcolemmal (Bradley et al. 2012) and mitochondrial (Holloway et al. 2006) membranes during exercise to facilitate fatty acid import. Indeed, whole-body fat oxidation rates increased over time during 120 min cycling at 60% O2 peak in a trial in which CD36 abundance in whole-muscle homogenate remained unchanged but CD36 translocation was observed (Bradley et al. 2012).

Interestingly, no relationship was observed between vastus lateralis CD36 abundance and whole-body fat oxidation during 2-h fed-state cycling at 80% of VT1 with CHO feeding (r = 0.21, 95% CI − 0.47, 1.04, P = 0.48), which may suggest CD36 is relatively less determining of fat oxidation during exercise in these conditions. The high rate of CHO feeding during the prolonged moderate-intensity exercise likely suppressed plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) rate of appearance and circulating concentrations (Wallis et al. 2005; Stellingwerff et al. 2007), plausibly reducing the potential for an individual’s capacity for fatty acid import across the sarcolemmal membrane to influence substrate oxidation during exercise. Fat oxidation during fed-state cycling with CHO feeding was strongly related to vastus lateralis CS activity (r = 0.90, 95% CI 0.73, 0.96, P < 0.001), which suggests fatty acid metabolism in these circumstances is related to mitochondrial protein content (Larsen et al. 2012).

Our observation that PFO was associated with 30-min TT performance preceded by 2 h of moderate-intensity cycling may support its measurement during routine physiological profiling assessments (Maunder et al. 2018b). Addition of PFO to a model of 30-min TT performance containing V̇O2peak, power at 4 mmol.L−1 blood lactate concentration, and GE at 165 W explained an additional ~ 2.6% of variation (adjusted R2 0.903 vs. 0.877), and the stepwise model selection process removed GE and included PFO (adjusted R2 0.900). The same inferences were observed when PFO was expressed relative to body mass, only the extra variation explained was ~ 1% (data not shown). The contribution of PFO to these performance models is further substantiated by the standardised coefficients (Table 3). We should, however, acknowledge that the variation in body mass within our sample (68–98 kg), and therefore contribution made by resting metabolic rate to energy expenditure, may have influenced the apparent lack of contribution made by GE to model fit. Previously, significant associations between finishing time in an Ironman triathlon and PFO during an incremental test have been observed (Frandsen et al. 2017; Vest et al. 2019), though in these studies the relationships with performance (r = 0.35–0.47, P < 0.05) were weaker than in the present investigation. These disparities could be related to the field-based, multi-sport, longer duration Ironman triathlons and lack between-subject pre- and during-competition controls used in previous work (Frandsen et al. 2017; Vest et al. 2019).

Mechanistically, utilising fatty acids to support energy metabolism during prior moderate-intensity cycling may have facilitated subsequent 30-min TT performance via effects on glycogen availability at onset of the TT. Muscle glycogen is progressively depleted during prolonged exercise (Bergström et al. 1967), and glycogen phosphorylase activation (Hespel and Richter 1992), and consequently glycogenolysis (Hargreaves et al. 1995), is related to glycogen availability. Therefore, preserving muscle glycogen during the initial 2-h of moderate-intensity cycling via fatty acid utilisation may have helped facilitate high rates of glycogenolysis, and therefore, work output, during the TT. This explanation remains plausible despite the absence of a relationship between vastus lateralis CD36 abundance and prolonged fed-state fat oxidation, as fat oxidation in this metabolic milieu may have been driven by other steps in the fatty acid metabolism pathway that are also associated with PFO during fasted, incremental exercise, such as enzymes involved in β-oxidation and intramuscular triacylglycerol hydrolysis, or type I fibre percentage (Nordby et al. 2006; Stisen et al. 2006; Dandanell et al. 2018; Shaw et al. 2020). Indeed, positive associations were observed between PFO and prolonged fed-state fat oxidation (r = 0.83, 95% CI 0.57, 0.94, P < 0.01), and between prolonged fed-state fat oxidation and 30-min TT performance (r = 0.58, 95% CI 0.12, 0.84, P = 0.02). However, it should also be acknowledged that CHO ingestion across the two meals prior to the TT was relatively low (2.5–3.0 g.kg−1). If CHO ingestion during this period was greater, the presumably greater pre-trial glycogen storage may have reduced the relevance of fat oxidation during the prolonged exercise prior to the TT. Future research could investigate the implications of fat oxidation during prolonged exercise for subsequent performance in a similar model with more aggressive pre-trial CHO feeding.

It is possible the relationship between PFO and pre-loaded 30-min TT performance was not causal, and that greater mitochondrial protein content supports both independently. Indeed, vastus lateralis CS activity was positively correlated with PFO and pre-loaded 30-min TT performance (Table 2). Nevertheless, given invasive measures of mitochondrial protein content are generally not feasible in applied settings, our observation that addition of PFO to a model of pre-loaded 30-min TT performance explained an additional ~ 2.6% of variation above that explained by the traditional non-invasive parameters indicates PFO may be a worthwhile assessment parameter in applied settings. Whilst this ~ 2.6% extra variation is not extensive, as PFO can be easily estimated during routine physiological profiling assessments without further equipment, time, or protocols beyond what is adopted routinely (Maunder et al. 2018b), its inclusion may be justified in some applied sport settings where small differences in performance can determine success and failure. Indeed, these observations provide data with which applied practitioners can make decisions regarding the relevance of estimating PFO in their specific context.

A further observation supporting estimation of PFO in routine physiological profiling assessments is the significant, strong association between PFO and whole-body fat oxidation during fed-state, prolonged moderate-intensity cycling with CHO feeding (r = 0.83, 95% CI 0.57, 0.94, P < 0.001). Routine physiological profiling assessments are commonly conducted after an overnight fast for ease of repetition in follow-up (Maunder et al. 2018b). Given that whole-body fat oxidation rates are greater during exercise in the fasted compared to fed state (Coyle et al. 1997; Horowitz et al. 1997; Bergman and Brooks 1999), and may increase over time during prolonged exercise (Ahlborg et al. 1974; Watt et al. 2002, 2006), whole-body fat oxidation rates during fasted incremental exercise may not be readily transferable to the prolonged fed-state exercise that endurance athletes perform in training and competition. However, the present data suggest PFO measured during fasted incremental cycling can distinguish athletes likely to exhibit higher or lower whole-body fat oxidation rates during prolonged fed-state exercise with CHO feeding (Table 2). These data, therefore, support inclusion of PFO estimates in routine physiological profiling assessments with endurance athletes interested in substrate oxidation responses during subsequent training and competition. It should be acknowledged here that serial measurement of PFO during routine physiological profiling requires careful control of protocol design and acute diet and exercise status (Amaro-Gahete et al. 2019).

In summary, PFO measured during fasted, incremental cycling had moderate-to-strong associations with vastus lateralis CD36 abundance, CS activity, pre-loaded 30-min TT performance, and whole-body fat oxidation rates during prolonged fed-state cycling with CHO feeding in endurance-trained males. Furthermore, addition of PFO to a model containing V̇O2peak, power at 4 mmol.L−1 blood lactate concentration, and GE explained an additional ~ 2.6% of the variation in pre-loaded 30-min TT performance. These data, therefore, support the inclusion of non-invasive PFO estimates in routine physiological profiling assessments with endurance athletes if insight into skeletal muscle parameters, endurance performance, and/or substrate oxidation responses to subsequent training and competition is sought.