Study shows cells retain a lasting record of past workouts
Researchers found that muscle and liver cells keep a memory of previous exercise, helping performance and metabolism even after breaks.
A team of exercise physiologists examined how cells store information about physical activity by subjecting mice to an initial training period, a detraining phase, and a second training bout. Retrained mice developed larger muscle fibers and demonstrated superior matching of energy production to demand, advantages that remained even on a high-fat diet. Liver cells from both mice and humans released more carboxylesterase enzymes after retraining, improving fat delivery to muscles.
The researchers also reported that parental endurance exercise can confer metabolic benefits to offspring for at least a year. These findings challenge the traditional “use it or lose it” view and could inform new guidelines for people unable to maintain consistent exercise routines.
