Exercise-associated changes were seen in more than 20 metabolites, reflecting processing of sugars, fats and amino acids as fuels as well as the body's utilization of ATP, the primary source of cellular energy. Several changes involved metabolic pathways not previously associated with exercise, including increases in niacinamide, a vitamin derivative known to enhance insulin release. Another experiment that analyzed samples taken from different vascular locations indicated that most metabolite changes were generated in the exercising muscles, although some appeared to arise throughout the body.
Detailed metabolic profile gives 'chemical snapshot' of the effects of exercise.
