Sex dimorphism in serum lipid dynamics after acute exhaustive exercise

Zhongxun Ren; Baile Wu; Chunxue Tang; Jiayu Qian; Zihan Fan; YanYan Zhang; Lijun Shi

doi:10.5114/biolsport.2026.158677

eISSN: 2083-1862
ISSN: 0860-021X

Biology of Sport

Current Issue Manuscripts accepted About the journal Editorial board Abstracting and indexing Archive Ethical standards and procedures Contact Instructions for authors Journal's Reviewers Special Information

Editorial System

Submit your Manuscript

Editorial Policies

Sarajevo Declaration on Integrity and Visibility of Scholarly Publications

Open access

Send email

Copy url:

abstract:

Original paper

Sex dimorphism in serum lipid dynamics after acute exhaustive exercise

Zhongxun Ren

^{1, 2}

,

Baile Wu

^{1, 2}

,

Chunxue Tang

^{1, 2}

,

Jiayu Qian

¹

,

Zihan Fan

¹

,

YanYan Zhang

^{1, 2, 3}

,

Lijun Shi

^{1, 2, 3}

Department of Exercise Physiology, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
Laboratory of Sports Stress and Adaptation of General Administration of Sport, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China
Key Laboratory of Sports and Physical Health of Ministry of Education, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China

Biol Sport.2026;43:1071–1081

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/biolsport.2026.158677

Online publish date: 2026/03/30

View full text Get citation

PlumX metrics:

This study aimed to characterize serum lipidomic sexual dimorphism following acute exhaustive exercise under stringently controlled conditions. Forty healthy adults (20 males, 20 females) performed a CPET to exhaustion, with objective termination criteria and females tested during their mid-luteal phase. Untargeted lipidomics was performed on serum at baseline and at multiple postexercise time points. Males presented a greater absolute V ̇ O2peak (45.05 ± 4.14 vs 36.80 ± 3.69 ml/kg/min, P < 0.001) but a comparable V ̇ O2peak when FFM was normalized (56.50 ± 5.65 vs 55.45 ± 5.82 ml/kgFFM/min, P = 0.567). This standardized exhaustion was validated by both sexes achieving similar, high-intensity termination criteria (PRERpeak = 0.607, PRPE = 0.176, PHRpeak = 0.164). A total of 620 lipid species were identified via untargeted lipidomics. Sex-stratified analysis identified more significantly different lipids compared to pooled-sex analysis (male:179, female:288). Key sex discriminating lipids included PE 36:4, PC 32:1, SM d18:1/25:0, BMP 34:1, and PC 36:4. Cluster analysis revealed three recovery patterns, with lipid distribution differing significantly by sex. This study demonstrates that distinct metabolic response patterns exist between sexes when standardized exhaustion is achieved. Sex-stratified analysis identified more sex-specific lipids and pinpointed five sex-discriminating lipid molecular markers. The study revealed three different lipid recovery patterns, establishing that identical physiological endpoints arise from distinct metabolic mechanisms and underscoring the importance of sex-stratified analysis in exercise metabolism research.

keywords:

Sex dimorphism in serum lipid dynamics after acute exhaustive exercise

Zhongxun Ren 1, 2 , Baile Wu 1, 2 , Chunxue Tang 1, 2 , Jiayu Qian 1 , Zihan Fan 1 , YanYan Zhang 1, 2, 3 , Lijun Shi 1, 2, 3

Lipidomics, Sexual dimorphism, Acute exercise, Metabolomics, Lipid metabolism

Zhongxun Ren

^{1, 2}

,

Baile Wu

^{1, 2}

,

Chunxue Tang

^{1, 2}

,

Jiayu Qian

¹

,

Zihan Fan

¹

,

YanYan Zhang

^{1, 2, 3}

,

Lijun Shi

^{1, 2, 3}