Effect of Obesity on Extracellular Matrix Composition in Healthy Males With Normal and High BMI

Three groups of young (n=10) and old (n=10) healthy men and obese young (n=10) men are recruited.

After verbal and written information is provided signed consent is obtained.

Subjects arrive at the lab overnight fasted and not having done exercise the prior day and having consumed a normal isocaloric carbohydrate rich diet.

After a voiding and a 15 min rest body composition is determined by DXA. After this blood pressure is measured in the supine position in triplicate separated by 1 min. Following this a venous blood sample is obtained from a cubital vein, and kept on ice until further handling.

Subsequently an adipose tissue biopsy is obtained by the Bergström technique applied with suction from an incision 3-5 cm lateral from the umbilicus. After compression and a 30 min rest, the subject perform an incremental exercise test to determine maximal fat oxidation. In brief pulmonary oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide excretion is measured using a COSMED Quark B2 on-line system during 5 min rest sitting on a cycle ergometer, and then during exercise with 3 min increments starting at 60 Watt and increasing by 35 watts. When the respiratory exchange ratio is above 1 the exercise is stopped. After a 5 min break an incremental test until voluntary exhaustion is performed to determine maximal oxygen uptake. This completes the experiment.