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J Physiol Volume 556, Number 1, 305-313, April 1, 2004 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2003.055152
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Fuel selection during intense shivering in humans: EMG pattern reflects carbohydrate oxidation

François Haman1, Stéphane R. Legault2 and Jean-Michel Weber1

1 Biology Department, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N52 Defense R & D Canada (DRDC), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0Z4

The thermogenic response of humans depends critically on the coordination of muscle fibre recruitment and oxidative fuel metabolism. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether the electromyographic (EMG) pattern of muscle recruitment could provide metabolic information on oxidative fuel selection during high-intensity shivering. EMG activity (of 8 large muscles) and fuel metabolism were monitored simultaneously in non-acclimatized adult men during high-intensity shivering. Even though acute cold exposure elicited similar changes in metabolic rate among subjects, lipid and carbohydrate use was very different. Depending on the subject, the cold-induced increase in carbohydrate (CHO) oxidation ranged between 2- and 8-fold, with CHO accounting for 33–78% of total heat production , and lipids for 14–60%. This high variability in fuel selection was primarily explained by differences in ‘burst shivering’ rate, indicating that the recruitment of type II fibres plays a key role in orchestrating fuel selection. This study is the first to show that the pattern of muscle recruitment can provide quantitative information on energy metabolism. Future work should focus on the study of shivering bursts that may provide essential clues on what limits human survival in the cold.

(Received 16 September 2003; accepted after revision 20 January 2004; first published online 23 January 2004)
Corresponding author J.-M. Weber: Biology Department, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5.  Email: jmweber{at}science.uottawa.ca




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