Effect of starvation on work capacity and voluntary skeletal muscle function in man

Post-operative fatigue is a well-known clinical problem even after uncomplicated surgery. In the multifaceted post-operative state, several factors other then the surgical trauma may influence muscular function, such as an insufficient nutritional intake. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of fasting on work capacity and voluntary skeletal muscle function. Eight healthy lean volunteers, age range 25-43 years, were studied the day before starvation, at the end of the fasting period of 5 days, and after another 3-4 days on a normal diet. Hand grip strength was assessed as maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and physical working capacity was investigated with successively increased work load on a cycle ergometer until near exhaustion. After 5 days of total starvation, MVC remained unchanged but physical working capacity was reduced from 220 +/- 18 watt to 199 +/- 22 watt (p < 0.05). Corresponding heart rate, estimated effort and leg tiredness were not changed. A poor nutritional intake per se may therefore be a less important factor causing post-operative muscle fatigue than the operation itself.