Steven K. Malin

Tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates (TCAi) have been proposed to act as myokines that influence energy metabolism. We determined if 2‐weeks of low‐calorie diet with interval exercise (LCD + INT) would increase TCAi more than a low‐calorie diet (LCD). Twenty‐three women were randomized to 2‐weeks of LCD ( n = 12, 48.4 ± 2.5 years, 37.8 ± 1.5 kg/m 2 , ~1200 kcal/d) or LCD + INT ( n = 11, 47.6 ± 4.3 years, 37.9 ± 2.3 kg/m 2 ; 60 min/d supervised INT of 3 min 90% & 50% HRpeak). TCAi and amino acids (AA) were measured at 0 min of a 75 g OGTT, while glucose, insulin, and FFA were obtained at 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 min to assess total area under the curve (tAUC 180min ) and insulin resistance (IR; tAUC 180min of Glucose × Insulin). Fuel use (indirect calorimetry) was also collected at 0, 60, 120, and 180 min as was fitness (VO 2 peak) and body composition (BodPod). Treatments reduced weight ( p < 0.001), fasting RER ( p = 0.01), and IR ( p = 0.03), although LCD + INT increased VO 2 peak ( p = 0.02) and maintained RER tAUC 180min ( p = 0.05) versus LCD. Treatments increased FFA tAUC 180min ( p = 0.005), cis‐aconitate, isocitrate, and succinate ( p ≤ 0.02), as well as reduced phenylalanine and tryptophan, cysteine ( p ≤ 0.005). However, LCD + INT increased malate, citrate, α‐ketoglutarate, and alanine more than LCD ( p ≤ 0.04). Thus, INT enhanced LCD effects on some TCAi in women with obesity independent of IR.