Elevated Resting Pulse and Altered Gas-Exchange are Associated with Likely Partial Metabolic Inflexibility

Authors: Victoria Madej, Akmalkhon Abduraimov, Eva Mirsky, Rania Khan, Sara Saleh, Nema Sayeed, Maxime Argenson

Field of Study: Biological Sciences

Program Affiliation: Metabolic and Exercise Physiology Lab

Faculty Mentors: Daniel Miller, Lina Begdache

Easel: 1

Timeslot: Afternoon

Abstract: Metabolic inflexibility is the inability to effectively switch between fat and carbohydrate utilization as physiological demands change. It is often associated with metabolic dysfunction such as insulin resistance and cardiometabolic disease. Irregularities in cardiopulmonary function may indicate disruptions in metabolic adaptability; however, independent predictors remain unclear. In a cohort of college students (n = 115) assessed under steady-state resting conditions, likely partial metabolic inflexibility was defined as meeting ≥ 2 of 6 criteria (pulse, VO2% predicted, VCO2% predicted, BMI, PSQI score, and RMR % predicted). Logistic regression in Python 3.14.3 indicated that both higher resting pulse (p﹤0.001) and predicted VCO2% (p﹤0.001) were associated with greater odds of partial metabolic inflexibility. Higher predicted VO2% was associated with reduced odds (p﹤0.01). These findings suggest that partial metabolic inflexibility may be associated with increased cardiovascular strain and altered gas-exchange patterns, supporting an integrated cardiopulmonary-metabolic profile.