Lipolytic Activity During Physical Exercises: Consumption of Oxygen, Production of Adenosine Triphosphate and Neuro–Humoral Stimulation

Abstract

Recently the effect of physical activity on lipid metabolism has been thoroughly studied. Adipose tissue composed of adipocyte cells is the main energetic reservoir of the human body. Further, it stimulates the synthesis and the production of several hormones, such as leptin and estrogen. Current analysis investigates the lipolytic activity and the consumption of oxygen during physical exercises. Literature on the physiology of exercise, metabolism, physical activity and adipose tissues, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in current analysis has been indexed at Scielo Data Bank and at the Scholar Google. Data showed that whereas during low intensity aerobic physical activity the energy consumed by the body hails from lipids (adipocytes), during high intensity prolonged exercises the body’s preferential source of energy is related to the metabolism of carbohydrates. The less the intensity of the exercise, the greater is the consumption of body fat; the greater the intensity of physical exercise, the greater is the consumption of carbohydrates. Lipolysis is the opposite process to lipogenesis. Storing of fat occurs during lipogenesis, or rather, the formation of adipocytes; the formation of fatty acids occurs in lipolysis, or rather, the breaking of the fat molecule instead of its maintenance.