Increased Skeletal Muscle Oxidative Capacity Augments the Myokine Response to Whole Body Vibration

Abstract

Introduction: The role of skeletal muscle health in preventing and ameliorating chronic disease is emerging. The improvements in skeletal muscle metabolism are likely mediated by myokines, such as myostatin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and decorin. Whether basal skeletal muscle health contributes to the myokine response to whole body vibration (WBV), an exercise mimetic, has yet to be elucidated.

Methods: Data from 63 young adults (32.5 ± 0.7 years, 57.1% female, 42.9% non-Hispanic Black) were included from a longitudinal twin cohort study. Skeletal muscle oxidative capacity (SMOC) was determined using near-infrared spectroscopy by measuring the rate of skeletal muscle oxygen consumption after stimulation and was represented as a rate constant averaged over three trials (avgRC). The acute WBV protocol consisted of 10 cycles of 1 min of vibration exercise followed by 30 s of standing rest. Blood was collected at baseline (PRE), immediately post, and 1, 3, and 24 h post-WBV and myokine concentrations of IL-6, myostatin, and decorin were measured at each of these timepoints. Participants were divided into two groups by SMOC: low SMOC (avgRC < 1.82) and high SMOC (avgRC > 2.13).

Results: Participant characteristics including age, body mass index, body fat percentage, handgrip, and skeletal muscle index were similar between groups. SMOC was positively associated with myostatin at baseline (ß = 564.6, SE = 232.4, P = 0.045) and 24 h following WBV (ß = 661.0, SE = 189.4, P = 0.029). In addition, a significantly higher overall myostatin ( P = 0.026) and IL-6 response ( P = 0.001) to WBV was observed in the high SMOC group compared with the low SMOC group.

Conclusions: Higher SMOC is associated with a greater myostatin and IL-6 response to acute WBV. These data suggest that a higher SMOC at baseline may positively impact the myokine response to WBV, independent of adiposity, and demonstrate the importance of skeletal muscle health on preventing and ameliorating chronic disease.

Keywords: IL-6; MUSCLE HEALTH; MYOSTATIN; OBESITY; WHOLE BODY VIBRATION.