Fig. 1.

Acute metabolic effects of exercise on the key peripheral organs involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis. In response to acute exercise, muscle immediately mobilises stored glucose then fatty acids and takes up glucose and fatty acids from plasma to match energy demand. During sustained exercise, adipose tissue and the liver respectively mobilise NEFA and synthesise glucose to keep providing fuel to muscle. In the meantime, cardiac output is increased and microvascular perfusion of peripheral tissues, capillary recruitment, muscle membrane permeability and transport of substrates is increased. These changes are associated with changes in substrate fluxes and secretion of glucagon and insulin by the pancreas. IMTG, intramuscular triacylglyerols; TG, triacylglycerols.