Study type: OtherConfidence: Moderate

Blood Flow and Lipolysis in Adipose Tissue Adjacent to Contracting Muscle: An Acute Study

Stallknecht B, Dela F, Helge JW

Year2007

Sample sizen=10

JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism

AuthorsStallknecht B, Dela F, Helge JW

Evidence is still building up

Summary

In an acute study, 10 healthy men performed fasting one-legged knee extension (25/55/85% intensity); subcutaneous fat adjacent to the contracting muscle showed higher blood flow (significant at low intensity) and lipolysis (significant at high intensity) than the resting side. Localized lipolysis exists acutely, but the absolute amount is small and does not translate into long-term localized fat loss.

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DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00215.2006

Key Findings

Key findings

Key point

1
Subcutaneous fat adjacent to the contracting muscle had higher blood flow (significant at low intensity) and lipolysis (significant at high intensity) than the resting side
2
Localized enhancement of lipolysis does exist acutely
3
However the absolute magnitude is small and does not translate into long-term localized fat loss (spot reduction)
4
n=10 and an acute study that does not use body composition as an outcome, which is a limitation for interpretation

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