The fat generally make less energy than carbohydrate to muscle’s needs during exercise, mobilization and oxidation of FFAs are critical to performance in endurance exercise. During such long activity, carbohydrate reserves become depleted, and muscle must rely more on the oxidation of fat for energy production. When carbohydrate reserves are low (low plasma glucose and low muscle glycogen), the endocrine system can accelerate the oxidation of fats (lipolysis), thus ensuring that muscles’ energy needs can be met so that fat metabolism can takes places during exercise. (A.E Jeukendrup et al,1998)
Free fatty acids are stored as triglycerides in adipose tissue and within muscle fibers. Adipose tissue triglycerides, however, must be broken down to release the FFAs, which are then transported to the muscle fibers. The rate of FFA uptake by active muscle correlates highly with the plasma FFA concentration. The higher of this concentration would increase cellular uptake of the FFA. Therefore, the rate of triglyceride breakdown may determine, in part, the rate at which muscles use fat as a fuel source during exercise. The rate of lipolysis is controlled by five hormones:
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Lipolysis is also improved through the elevation of epinephrine and norepinephrine. In addition to having a role in gluconeogenesis, cortisol accelerates the mobilization and use of FFAs for energy during exercise. Plasma cortisol concentration peaks after 30 to 45 min of exercise and then decreases to near-normal levels. But the plasma FFA concentration continues to increase throughout the activity, meaning that lipase continues to be activated by other hormones. The hormones that continue this process are the catecholamines and growth hormone. The thyroid hormones also contribute to the mobilization and metabolism of FFAs but to a much lesser