Sex differences in insulin regulation of skeletal muscle glycogen synthase and changes during weight loss and exercise in adults.

OBJECTIVE: The authors sought to understand sex differences in muscle metabolism in 73 older men and women.

METHODS: Body composition, VO2 max, and insulin sensitivity (M) by 3-hour hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp with vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were measured.

RESULTS: Women had lower body weight, VO2 max, and fat-free mass than men. Men had lower M, lower change (insulin minus basal) in muscle glycogen synthase (GS) activity, and lower change in AKT protein expression than women. M was associated with the change (insulin-basal) in GS activity and the change in AKT protein expression. Sex differences (n = 60) were tested with 6-month weight loss or 3×/week aerobic exercise training. The postintervention minus preintervention change (insulin-basal) (∆∆) in GS activity (fractional, independent, total) was higher in men than women in the weight loss group and ∆∆ in GS fractional activity was higher in women than men in the aerobic exercise group. In all participants, ∆∆ in GS fractional and independent activities was related to ∆∆ in AKT expression and glycogen content.

CONCLUSIONS: Sex differences in insulin sensitivity may be explained at the cellular muscle level, and to improve skeletal muscle insulin action in older adults, it may be necessary to recommend different behavioral strategies depending on the individual's sex.