Using 1H-MRS at 3T, vastus lateralis muscle acetylcarnitine was measured in 8 young male subjects at rest and in response to incremental, dynamic knee extension contractions. Intramyocellular [acetylcarnitine] increased >3-fold in response to the contraction protocol, thus buffering mitochondrial acetyl coenzyme A and thereby supporting oxidative metabolism of glucose and fat in the citric acid cycle. Measurement of acetylcarnitine has the potential to be a useful tool for the investigation of muscle substrate use and metabolic flexibility. This work is the first demonstration of dynamic changes in muscle [acetylcarnitine] at 3T.
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