Intramuscular lipid content in female endurance-trained elderly persons by in vivo 1H-MR spectroscpy

The aim of this study is the evaluation of intramyocellular (IMCL) and extramyocellular lipids (EMCL) in skeletal muscle in elderly female endurance-trained individuals. The subjects comprised endurance-trained elderly persons (END : n=7, age=66.1 +/- 2.0) and healthy elderly control subjects (CON : n=7, age=70.1 +/- 3.0). All subjects were female and matched by age and lower BMI. We quantified differences in IMCL and EMCL concentrations in the tibialis anterior (TA), soleus (SOL), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles using H-1-MR spectroscopy. The IMCL and EMCL contents in SOL and MG in END were significantly lower than those in CON (p < 0.01). Total lipid content in SOL and MG was lower in END. The IMCL and EMCL contents in TA in END were slightly lower than those in CON. Water contents of all types of muscle in END were higher than those in CON. These results suggest that stored IMCL and EMCL in END are less than in CON.