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Updated: Feb 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Deciphering the Mysteries of Skeletal Muscle Fiber Types Using the MyDoBID Technique
Published on: September 22, 2023
An approach to noninvasive fiber type determination by NMR
C A Boicelli1, A M Baldassarri, C Borsetto
1IRCCS San Raffaele, Milano, Italy.
Abstract:
In vivo 31P NMR spectroscopy was used to determine the ratios of creatine phosphate (PCr) to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) in leg and arm muscles of four sprinters, one marathon runner, and two sedentary subjects. Both ratios were definitely higher in the sprinters indicating that, since muscle ATP and Pi concentrations are constant, the PCr muscle content of these athletes is higher than usual. Sprinters are known to have higher percentages of fast-twitch fibers, which are richer in PCr than slow-twitch fibers. It is concluded that measurements of muscle ATP, PCr, and Pi through in vivo NMR spectroscopy could be used to determine muscle fiber composition.
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