Muscle glycogen accumulation after endurance exercise in trained and untrained individuals

Muscle glycogen accumulation was determined in six trained cyclists (Trn) and six untrained subjects (UT) at 6 and either 48 or 72 h after 2 h of cycling exercise at ~75% peak O₂ uptake (V̇O(2peak)), which terminated with five 1-min sprints. Subjects ate 10 g carbohydrate · kg^-1 · day^-1 for 48-72 h postexercise. Muscle glycogen accumulation averaged 71 ± 9 (SE) mmol/kg (Trn) and 31 ± 9 mmol/kg (UT) during the first 6 h postexercise (P < 0.01) and 79 ± 22 mmol/kg (Trn) and 60 ± 9 mmol/kg (UT) between 6 and 48 or 72 h postexercise (not significant). Muscle glycogen concentration was 164 ± 21 mmol/kg (Trn) and 99 ± 16 mmol/kg (UT) 48-72 h postexercise (P < 0.05). Muscle GLUT-4 content immediately postexercise was threefold higher in Trn than in UT (P < 0.05) and correlated with glycogen accumulation rates (r = 0.66, P < 0.05). Glycogen synthase in the active I form was 2.5 ± 0.5, 3.3 ± 0.5, and 1.0 ± 0.3 μmol · g^-1 · min^-1 in Trn at 0, 6, and 48 or 72 h postexercise, respectively; corresponding values were 1.2 ± 0.3, 2.7 ± 0.5, and 1.6 ± 0.3 μmol · g^-1 · min^-1 in UT (P < 0.05 at 0 h). Plasma insulin and plasma C-peptide area under the curve were lower in Trn than in UT over the first 6 h postexercise (P < 0.05). Plasma creatine kinase concentrations were 125 ± 25 IU/l (Trn) and 91 ± 9 IU/l (UT) preexercise and 112 ± 14 IU/l (Trn) and 144 ± 22 IU/l (UT; P < 0.05 vs. preexercise) at 48-72 h postexercise (normal: 30-200 IU/l). We conclude that endurance exercise training results in an increased ability to accumulate muscle glycogen after exercise.