Albumin synthesis after intense intermittent exercise in human subjects

We measured hepatic albumin synthesis in five volunteers (4 men and 1 woman) at 3 and 6 h after recovery from intense exercise. A primed-constant infusion of a stable isotopic tracer of phenylalanine was used to determine hepatic fractional synthetic rate (FSR) and absolute synthetic rate (ASR) of albumin from the enrichment of phenylalanine in albumin. The infusion of the stable isotope tracer began 2 h after upright exercise or upright rest. Albumin FSR and ASR were 6.39 +/- 0.48%/day and 120 +/- 9 mg.kg body wt-1.day-1, respectively, 3-6 h after recovery from exercise; the FSR and ASR on the time control study day were 5.94 +/- 0.47%/day and 104 +/- 9 mg.kg body wt-1.day-1, respectively. The 6 and 16% increases (P < 0.05) in FSR and ASR after exercise were associated with an elevated plasma albumin content at 5 and 6 h of recovery (P < 0.05), an increased total protein content throughout recovery (P < 0.05), and a negative free water clearance (P < 0.05) at 2, 3, and 6.5 h of recovery compared with baseline values; these variables were unchanged from their baselines on the time control study day. Increased albumin content and reduced free water clearance contribute to a retention of fluid within the circulation after intense exercise. The measured increase in albumin synthesis could not account for the entire increase in albumin content at 6 h of recovery from exercise. However, we estimate that if the increased activity was maintained for the next 18 h, it could account for the expected increase in albumin content at 24 h of recovery.