LAUSR

The effect of chronic metformin intake on aerobic and anaerobic capacity was examined in healthy rats. Twenty rats completed 10 days of metformin ingestion (MET, 250 mg). After this period, the animals performed 4 high-intensity bouts until exhaustion at 9, 11, 13 and 15% of body weight (BW) in swimming, separated by 24h hours, with prior metformin (250 mg) or placebo (PL). The Critical Load (CL) and Anaerobic Work Capacity (AWC) were calculated and considered aerobic and anaerobic capacity, respectively. There was no difference in CL between MET and PL group (p>0.05). The AWC was higher in MET than PL group (p=0.004). The times to exhaustion at all bouts were higher (p<0.004) in MET group (9% of BW= 434.5±267.3; 11% of BM= 269.6±214.2; 13% of BW=174.0±40.9; 15% of BW=146.6±15.9) compared to PL group (9% of BW= 96.4±22.3; 11% of BM= 65.5±13.4; 13% of BW=51.1±5.5; 15% of BW=40.8±7.5). Glucose concentration was higher at 90 and 120 min than 0 and 30 min for MET (intra-group) during Oral Glucose Test Tolerance; there was no difference between MET and PL for Area Under Curve (AUC). MET ingestion enhances AWC and times to exhaustion during high-intensity bouts, but not aerobic capacity.