Substrate utilisation during exercise and shivering

It is generally assumed that exercise and shivering are analogous processes with regard to substrate utilisation and that, as a consequence, exercise can be used as a model for shivering. In the present study, substrate utilisation during exercise and shivering at the same oxygen consumption (V˙O2) were compared. Following an overnight fast, eight male subjects undertook a 2-h immersion in cold water, designed to evoke three different intensities of shivering. At least 1 week later they undertook a 2-h period of bicycle ergometry during which the exercise intensity was varied to match the V˙O2 recorded during shivering. During both activities hepatic glucose output (HGO), the rate of glucose utilisation (Rd), blood glucose, plasma insulin, free fatty acid (FFA) and beta-hydroxybutyrate (B-HBA) concentrations were measured. The V˙O2 measured during the different levels of shivering averaged 0.49 l · min−1 (level 1: low), 0.6 l · min−1 (level 2: low-moderate), and 0.9 l · min−1 (level 3: moderate), and corresponded closely to the levels measured during exercise. HGO and Rd were greater (P