The influence of low versus high carbohydrate diet on a 45-min strenuous cycling exercise

To examine the effects of a 3-day high carbohydrate (H-CHO) and low carbohydrate (L-CHO) diet on 45 min of cycling exercise, 12 endurance-trained cyclists performed a 45-min cycling exercise at 82 +/- 2% VO2peak following an overnight fast, after a 6-day diet and exercise control. The 7-day protocol was repeated under 2 randomly assigned dietary trials H-CHO and L-CHO. On days 1-3, subjects consumed a mixed diet for both trials and for days 4-6 consumed isocaloric diets that contained either 600 g or 100 g of carbohydrates, for the H-CHO and the L-CHO trials, respectively. Muscle biopsy samples, taken from the vastus lateralis prior to the beginning of the 45-min cycling test, indicated that muscle glycogen levels were significantly higher (p < .05) for the H-CHO trial (104.5 +/- 9.4 mmol/kg wet wt) when compared to the L-CHO trial (72.2 +/- 5.6 mmol/kg wet wt). Heart rate, ratings of perceived exertion, oxygen uptake, and respiratory quotient during exercise were not significantly different between the 2 trials. Serum glucose during exercise for the H-CHO trial significantly increased (p < .05) from 4.5 +/- 0.1 mmol x L(-1) (pre) to 6.7 +/- 0.6 mmol x L(-1) (post), while no changes were found for the L-CHO trial. In addition, post-exercise serum glucose was significantly greater (p < .05) for the H-CHO trial when compared to the L-CHO trial (H-CHO, 6.7 +/- 0.6 mmol x L(-1); L-CHO, 5.2 +/- 0.2 mmol x L(-1)). No significant changes were observed in serum free fatty acid, triglycerides, or insulin concentration in either trial. The findings suggest that L-CHO had no major effect on 45-min cycling exercise that was not observed with H-CHO when the total energy intake was adequate.     

Muscle glycogen loading with a liquid carbohydrate supplement.

This study compared two high carbohydrate (CHO) diets in 14 male runners for effects on muscle glycogen deposition, endurance, and sensations of gastrointestinal discomfort. Muscle glycogen was measured in the vastus lateralis at rest and run time to exhaustion at 75% VO2max was measured following 3-1/2 days on a 50% CHO diet. After 14 days the subjects consumed a 20% CHO diet and continued training to reduce glycogen. During the next 3-1/2 days, subjects ran less and consumed a 90% CHO diet emphasizing pasta and rice (Pasta, n = 7) or lesser amounts of pasta and rice supplemented by a maltodextrin beverage (Supplement, n = 7). Glycogen was again measured, followed by a second run to exhaustion. Compared to the 50% CHO diet, Pasta increased muscle glycogen by 27.1 +/- 12.2 mmoles/kg muscle (M +/- SE; P < 0.05) and run time by 15.7 +/- 5.9 min; Supplement increased glycogen by 43.2 +/- 13.5 mmoles/kg (P < 0.05) and run time by 29.0 +/- 7.4 min (P < 0.05). Total glycogen concentrations and run times were not significantly different for Pasta versus Supplement. Subjects reported less gastrointestinal discomfort and greater overall preference for Supplement than for Pasta. Thus, glycogen loading can be accomplished at least as effectively and more comfortably by substituting a maltodextrin drink for some of the pasta and rice in a glycogen loading diet.     

Improved recovery from prolonged exercise following the consumption of low glycemic index carbohydrate meals

This study examined the effects of the glycemic index (GI) of post-exercise carbohydrate (CHO) intake on endurance capacity the following day. Nine active males participated in 2 trials. On day 1, subjects ran for 90 min at 70% VO(2max)(R1). Thereafter, they were supplied with either a high GI (HGI) or low GI (LGI) CHO diet which provided 8 g CHO/kg body mass (BM). On day 2, after an overnight fast, subjects ran to exhaustion at 70% VO(2max)(R2). Time to exhaustion during R2 was longer in the LGI trial (108.9 +/- 7.4 min) than in the HGI trial (96.9 +/- 4.8 min) (P < 0.05). Fat oxidation rates and free fatty acid concentrations were higher in the LGI trial than the HGI trial (P < 0.05). The results suggest that the increased endurance capacity was largely a consequence of the increased fat oxidation following the LGI recovery diet.     

Effects of exercise training on resting energy expenditure during caloric restriction

Resting energy expenditure (REE), maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), and body composition were measured in seven moderately obese women during 9 wk of dietary restriction (800 kcal/d). During weeks 4-6, subjects underwent exercise training (30 min cycling/d, 5 d/wk, at 70% VO2max). The first 3 wk of caloric restriction decreased REE by 13% (from 1437 +/- 76 to 1254 +/- 66 kcal/24 h, means +/- SEM, p less than 0.05). Exercise training increased VO2max (from 1717 +/- 108 to 1960 +/- 120 mL/min, means +/- SEM, p less than 0.05) but did not elevate the dietary-depressed REE (from 1254 +/- 66 to 1262 +/- 62 kcal/24 h). The greatest decrease in body fat (3.7 +/- 0.4 kg) occurred during exercise training, resulting in a small apparent increase in REE when expressed per kilogram total body weight. However, expressed per unit lean body mass, REE remained suppressed throughout the period of caloric restriction. We conclude that exercise training of sufficient intensity to substantially increase VO2max does not reverse the dietary-induced depression of REE.     

Variability in exercise capacity and metabolic response during endurance exercise after a low carbohydrate diet

The impact of altered blood glucose concentrations on exercise metabolism and performance after a low carbohydrate (CHO) diet was investigated. In random order, 1 wk apart, 9 trained men underwent euglycemic (CI) or placebo (PI) clamps, while performing up to 150 min of cycling at 70% VO2(max), after 48 h on a low CHO diet. The range in improvement in endurance capacity with glucose infusion was large (28 +/- 26%, P < 0.05). Fifty-six percent of subjects in CI failed to complete 150 min of exercise despite maintenance of euglycemia, while only 2 subjects in PI completed 150 min of exercise, despite being hypoglycemic. Total CHO oxidation remained similar between trials. Despite longer exercise times in CI, similar amounts of muscle glycogen were used to PI. Maintenance of euglycemia in the CHO-depleted state might have an ergogenic effect, however, the effect is highly variable between individuals and independent of changes in CHO oxidation.     

Oral hydroxycitrate supplementation enhances glycogen synthesis in exercised human skeletal muscle

Glycogen stored in skeletal muscle is the main fuel for endurance exercise. The present study examined the effects of oral hydroxycitrate (HCA) supplementation on post-meal glycogen synthesis in exercised human skeletal muscle. Eight healthy male volunteers (aged 22·0 (se 0·3) years) completed a 60-min cycling exercise at 70-75 % VO?max and received HCA or placebo in a crossover design repeated after a 7 d washout period. They consumed 500 mg HCA or placebo with a high-carbohydrate meal (2 g carbohydrate/kg body weight, 80 % carbohydrate, 8 % fat, 12 % protein) for a 3-h post-exercise recovery. Muscle biopsy samples were obtained from vastus lateralis immediately and 3 h after the exercise. We found that HCA supplementation significantly lowered post-meal insulin response with similar glucose level compared to placebo. The rate of glycogen synthesis with the HCA meal was approximately onefold higher than that with the placebo meal. In contrast, GLUT4 protein level after HCA supplementation was significantly decreased below the placebo level, whereas expression of fatty acid translocase (FAT)/CD36 mRNA was significantly increased above the placebo level. Furthermore, HCA supplementation significantly increased energy reliance on fat oxidation, estimated by the gaseous exchange method. However, no differences were found in circulating NEFA and glycerol levels with the HCA meal compared with the placebo meal. The present study reports the first evidence that HCA supplementation enhanced glycogen synthesis rate in exercised human skeletal muscle and improved post-meal insulin sensitivity.     

Carbohydrate loading and female endurance athletes: effect of menstrual-cycle phase

This study compared 3 d of carbohydrate loading (CHOL; 8.4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) carbohydrate) in female eumenorrheic athletes with 3 d of an isoenergetic normal diet (NORM; 5.2 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) carbohydrate) and examined the effect of menstrual-cycle phase on performance, muscle-glycogen concentration [glyc], and substrate utilization. Nine moderately trained eumenorrheic women cycled in an intermittent protocol varying in intensity from 45% to 75% VO2max for 75 min, followed by a 16-km time trial at the midfollicular (MF) and midluteal (ML) phases of the menstrual cycle on NORM and CHOL. Time-trial performance was not affected by diet (CHOL 26.10 +/- 1.04 min, NORM 26.16 +/- 1.35 min; P = 0.494) or menstrual-cycle phase (MF 26.05 +/- 1.10 min, ML 26.23 +/- 1.33 min; P = 0.370). Resting [glyc] was lowest in the MF phase after NORM (575 +/- 145 mmol x kg(-1) x dw(-1)), compared with the MF phase after CHOL (728 mmol x kg(-1) x dw(-1)) and the ML phase after CHOL and NORM (756 and 771 mmol x kg(-1) x dw(-1), respectively). No effect of phase on substrate utilization during exercise was observed. These data support previous observations of greater resting [glyc] in the ML than the MF phase of the menstrual cycle and suggest that lower glycogen storage in the MF phase can be overcome by carbohydrate loading.     

High-fat diet versus habitual diet prior to carbohydrate loading: effects of exercise metabolism and cycling performance

We examined the effects of a high-fat diet (HFD-CHO) versus a habitual diet, prior to carbohydrate (CHO)-loading on fuel metabolism and cycling time-trial (TT) performance. Five endurance-trained cyclists participated in two 14-day randomized cross-over trials during which subjects consumed either a HFD (> 65% MJ from fat) or their habitual diet (CTL) (30 +/- 5% MJ from fat) for 10 day, before ingesting a high-CHO diet (CHO-loading, CHO > 70% MJ) for 3 days. Trials consisted of a 150-min cycle at 70% of peak oxygen uptake (VáO2peak), followed immediately by a 20-km TT. One hour before each trial, cyclists ingested 400 ml of a 3.44% medium-chain triacylglycerol (MCT) solution, and during the trial, ingested 600 ml/hour of a 10% 14C-glucose + 3.44% MCT solution. The dietary treatments did not alter the subjects' weight, body fat, or lipid profile. There were also no changes in circulating glucose, lactate, free fatty acid (FFA), and b-hydroxybutyrate concentrations during exercise. However, mean serum glycerol concentrations were significantly higher (p < .01) in the HFD-CHO trial. The HFD-CHO diet increased total fat oxidation and reduced total CHO oxidation but did not alter plasma glucose oxidation during exercise. By contrast, the estimated rates of muscle glycogen and lactate oxidation were lower after the HFD-CHO diet. The HFD-CHO treatment was also associated with improved TT times (29.5 +/- 2.9 min vs. 30.9 +/- 3.4 min for HFD-CHO and CTL-CHO, p <.05). High-fat feeding for 10 days prior to CHO-loading was associated with an increased reliance on fat, a decreased reliance on muscle glycogen, and improved time trial performance after prolonged exercise.     

Drink-flavor change's lack of effect on endurance cycling performance in trained athletes

This study investigated whether a change in beverage flavor during endurance cycling improves subsequent performance. Eight trained male athletes (age 24.3 +/- 3.9 y, weight 74.7 +/- 6.0 kg, peak O(2) uptake [VO(2peak)] 65.4 +/- 5.4 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1); mean +/- SD) undertook 3 trials, with training and diet being controlled. Trials consisted of 120 min of steady-state (SS) cycling at approximately 70% VO(2peak), immediately followed by a 7-kJ/kg time trial (TT). During exercise subjects were provided with fluids every 20 min. After 80 min of SS cycling subjects either continued drinking the same-flavor sports drink or changed to an alternate flavor-either an alternate-flavor sports drink (AFSD) or cola. All beverages were carbohydrate and volume matched. Changing drink flavor caused no significant change in TT time (sports drink 27:16 +/- 03:12, AFSD 27:06 +/- 03:16, cola 27:03 +/- 02:42; min:s). The various flavors produced no treatment effects on heart rate, blood glucose, or rating of perceived exertion throughout the SS exercise protocol. The influence of other taste variables such as palatability, bitterness, or timing of flavor change on endurance-exercise performance requires more rigorous investigation.     

Further glycogen decrease during early recovery after eccentric exercise despite a high carbohydrate intake

BACKGROUND: Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a well-known phenomenon of athletes. It has been reported from muscle biopsies that the rate of muscle glycogen resynthesis is reduced after eccentric compared to concentric exercise. AIM OF THE STUDY: Try to compensate by a carbohydrate (CHO)-rich diet the decelerated glycogen resynthesis after eccentric exercise, measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy. METHODS: Glycogen, phosphocreatine, ATP, and Pi were measured in the human calf muscle. Twenty athletes divided into two groups (DOMS and CONTROL), reduced glycogen in M. gastrocnemius during two different running protocols. Additionally, 12 DOMS subjects performed an eccentric exercise while the CONTROL group rested. Subsequently, subjects consumed a CHO-rich diet (> 10 g/kg body mass/24 h). RESULTS: In both groups, glycogen has been reduced by about 50%. The first 2 h after exercise, glycogen dropped further (-15.6 +/- 15.7 mmol/ kg ww) in the DOMS but rose by +18.4 +/- 20.8 mmol/kg ww in the CONTROL group (P < 0.001). CONTROL subjects reached resting glycogen within 24 h (137 +/- 47 mmol/kg ww), while DOMS subjects needed more than one day (91 +/- 23 mmol/kg ww; P < 0.001). Pi and Pi/PCr, indicators of muscle injury, rose significantly in the DOMS but not in the CONTROL group. CONCLUSION: The diet rich in CHO's was not able to refill glycogen stores after eccentric exercise. Glycogen decreased even further during the beginning of recovery. This loss, which to our knowledge has not been measured before is probably the consequence of muscle cell damage and their reparation.     

Recovery from cycling exercise: effects of carbohydrate and protein beverages

The effects of different carbohydrate-protein (CHO + Pro) beverages were compared during recovery from cycling exercise. Twelve male cyclists (VO(2peak): 65 ± 7 mL/kg/min) completed ~1 h of high-intensity intervals (EX1). Immediately and 120 min following EX1, subjects consumed one of three calorically-similar beverages (285-300 kcal) in a cross-over design: carbohydrate-only (CHO; 75 g per beverage), high-carbohydrate/low-protein (HCLP; 45 g CHO, 25 g Pro, 0.5 g fat), or low-carbohydrate/high-protein (LCHP; 8 g CHO, 55 g Pro, 4 g fat). After 4 h of recovery, subjects performed subsequent exercise (EX2; 20 min at 70% VO(2peak) + 20 km time-trial). Beverages were also consumed following EX2. Blood glucose levels (30 min after beverage ingestion) differed across all treatments (CHO > HCLP > LCHP; p < 0.05), and serum insulin was higher following CHO and HCLP ingestion versus LCHP. Peak quadriceps force, serum creatine kinase, muscle soreness, and fatigue/energy ratings measured pre- and post-exercise were not different between treatments. EX2 performance was not significantly different between CHO (48.5 ± 1.5 min), HCLP (48.8 ± 2.1 min) and LCHP (50.3 ± 2.7 min). Beverages containing similar caloric content but different proportions of carbohydrate/protein provided similar effects on muscle recovery and subsequent exercise performance in well-trained cyclists.     

Hepatic de novo lipogenesis in normoinsulinemic and hyperinsulinemic subjects consuming high-fat,low-carbohydrate and low-fat,high-carbohydrate isoenergetic diets

BACKGROUND: Hypertriglyceridemia is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Until recently, the importance of hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) in contributing to hypertriglyceridemia was difficult to assess because of methodologic limitations. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the extent of the contribution by DNL to different conditions associated with hypertriglyceridemia. DESIGN: After 5 d of an isoenergetic high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, fasting DNL was measured in normoinsulinemic (or= 115 pmol/L) obese (n = 8) subjects. Fasting DNL was measured after a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet in normoinsulinemic lean (n = 5) and hyperinsulinemic obese (n = 5) subjects. Mass isotopomer distribution analysis was used to measure the fraction of newly synthesized fatty acids in VLDL-triacylglycerol. RESULTS: With the high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, hyperinsulinemic obese subjects had a 3.7-5.3-fold higher fractional DNL (8.5 +/- 0.7%) than did normoinsulinemic lean (1.6 +/- 0.5%) or obese (2.3 +/- 0.3%) subjects. With the low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet, normoinsulinemic lean and hyperinsulinemic obese subjects had similarly high fractional DNL (13 +/- 5.1% and 12.8 +/- 1.4%, respectively). Compared with baseline, consumption of the high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet did not affect triacylglycerol concentrations. However, after the low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet, triacylglycerols increased significantly and DNL was 5-6-fold higher than in normoinsulinemic subjects consuming a high-fat diet. The increase in triacylglycerol after the low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet was correlated with fractional DNL (P < 0.01), indicating that subjects with high DNL had the greatest increase in triacylglycerols. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the concept that both hyperinsulinemia and a low-fat diet increase DNL, and that DNL contributes to hypertriglyceridemia.     

The effect of a pre-exercise carbohydrate meal on immune responses to an endurance performance run

This study examined the effect of a pre-exercise meal with different glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) on immune responses to an endurance performance run. Eight men completed a preloaded 1 h run at 70 % VO2max on a level treadmill followed by a 10 km performance run on three occasions. In each trial, one of the three prescribed isoenergetic meals, i.e. high GI and high GL (H-H), high GI and low GL (H-L), or low GI and low GL (L-L) was consumed by the subjects 2 h before exercise. Carbohydrate intake (% of energy intake), GI, and GL were 65 %, 79.5, and 82.4 for H-H; 36 %, 78.5, and 44.1 for H-L; 65 %, 40.2, and 42.1 for L-L, respectively. The running time for the three trials was approximately 112 min at 70 % VO2max for the first hour and 76 % VO2max for the last 52 min. Consumption of pre-exercise high-carbohydrate meals (H-H and L-L) resulted in less perturbation of the circulating numbers of leucocytes, neutrophils and T lymphocyte subsets, and in decreased elevation of the plasma IL-6 concentrations immediately after exercise and during the 2 h recovery period compared with the H-L trial. These responses were accompanied by an attenuated increase in plasma IL-10 concentrations at the the end of the 2 h recovery period. The amount of carbohydrate consumed in the pre-exercise meal may be the most important influencing factor rather than the type of carbohydrate in modifying the immunoendocrine response to prolonged exercise.     

The effect of diet manipulations on aerobic performance

The purpose of this study was to examine the metabolic consequences of a moderate variation in dietary fat content of male endurance athletes during submaximal exercise. Six males (age, 29.8 +/- 11 years; weight, 72.3 +/- 10 kg) with an average maximum oxygen uptake (VO(2max)) of 66 +/- 10 ml/kg/min were tested on their normal diet and 3 experimental diets. The energy contributions from protein, carbohydrates, and fats were 16/59/22 (3% alcohol), 14/53/33, 13/72/15, and 16/61/23% for the normal diet (N), fat supplemented diet (F), high carbohydrate diet (C), and adjusted normal diet (AN), respectively. The F diet was designed to significantly increase fat content compared to the normal diet and be easily maintained by the athletes. Caloric content of the F, C, and AN diets were adjusted to meet estimated total daily energy expenditure. The difference between the N and AN diets is that the AN has been adjusted to meet estimated total daily energy expenditure. The diets were randomly assigned after substrate utilization testing on the N diet and were consumed for 7 days prior to testing. Substrate utilization was recorded at steady state (73 +/- 1.4% of VO(2max)) while running on a treadmill for 40 min. There were no significant differences in respiratory exchange ratio between any of the dietary manipulations. No significant differences were observed for lactate, VO2, or HR during submaximal testing on the N, F, C, and AN diets. These data indicate that a fat supplemented diet did not affect substrate utilization during 40 min of steady-state submaximal exercise when compared to a high carbohydrate diet or the participant's normal and adjusted normal diets.     

Effect of variable carbohydrate intake on exercise performance in female endurance cyclists

This study measured the effect of variable carbohydrate intake on time to exhaustion, variations in heart rate (HR), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in female endurance cyclists during an exercise trial. Subjects were 11 eumenorrheic women with maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) 60.1 +/- 5.1 ml/kg who habitually cycled at least 100 miles per week. In a crossover design, each woman was randomly assigned to a eucaloric diet providing 8, 5, or 3 g of CHO/kg of body weight. Subjects cycled at least 100 miles while adhering to the diet for 6 days. The exercise trial was performed on the 7th day, consisting of a 60 min cycle at 70% VO2max, followed by an increase in intensity to 90% VO2max until the intensity could no longer be maintained. Results indicated no difference in mean time to exhaustion, heart rate, or RPE. RER increased over time-elapsed (F = 40.4, p < .001) and across diets (F = 6.1, p = .015). CONCLUSIONS: Female endurance cyclists did not experience a difference in time to exhaustion, HR, or RPE with different levels of CHO intake during an endurance trial. RER varied with diet at submaximal intensities. Further research is needed to determine the optimal level of CHO intake for this population.     

Reduction in muscle glycogen and protein utilization with glucose feeding during exercise

Effects of feeding glucose on substrate metabolism during cycling were studied. Trained (60.0 +/- 1.9 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1)) males (N = 5) completed two 75 min, 80% VO(2max) trials: 125 g 13(C)-glucose CHO); 13(C)-glucose tracer, 10 g (C). During warm-up (30 min 30% VO2max) 2 . 2 g 13(C)-glucose was given as bicarbonate pool primer. Breath samples and blood glucose were analyzed for 13(C/12)C with IRMS. Protein oxidation was estimated from urine and sweat urea. Indirect calorimetry (protein corrected) and 13(C/12)C enrichment in expired CO(2)and blood glucose allowed exogenous (Gexo), endogenous (Gendo), muscle (Gmuscle), and liver glucose oxidation calculations. During exercise (75 min) in CHO versus C (respectively): protein oxidation was lower (6.8 +/- 2.7, 18.8 +/- 5.9 g; P = 0.01); Gendo was reduced (71.2 +/- 3.8, 80.7 +/- 5.7% P = 0.01); Gmuscle was reduced (55.3 +/- 6.1, 65.9 +/- 6.0%; P = 0.01) compensated by increased Gexo(58.3 +/- 2.1, 3.87 +/- 0.85 g; P = 0.000002). Glucose ingestion during exercise can spare endogenous protein and carbohydrate, in fed cyclists, without glycogen depletion.     

Effects of obesity on substrate utilization during exercise

OBJECTIVE: The capacity for lipid and carbohydrate (CHO) oxidation during exercise is important for energy partitioning and storage. This study examined the effects of obesity on lipid and CHO oxidation during exercise. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Seven obese and seven lean [body mass index (BMI), 33 +/- 0.8 and 23.7 +/- 1.2 kg/m(2), respectively] sedentary, middle-aged men matched for aerobic capacity performed 60 minutes of cycle exercise at similar relative (50% VO(2max)) and absolute exercise intensities. RESULTS: Obese men derived a greater proportion of their energy from fatty-acid oxidation than lean men (43 +/- 5% 31 +/- 2%; p = 0.02). Plasma fatty-acid oxidation determined from recovery of infused [0.15 micromol/kg fat-free mass (FFM) per minute] [1-(13)C]-palmitate in breath CO(2) was similar for obese and lean men (8.4 +/- 1.1 and 29 +/- 15 micromol/kg FFM per minute). Nonplasma fatty-acid oxidation, presumably, from intramuscular sources, was 50% higher in obese men than in lean men (10.0 +/- 0.6 versus 6.6 +/- 0.8 micromol/kg FFM per minute; p < 0.05). Systemic glucose disposal was similar in lean and obese groups (33 +/- 8 and 29 +/- 15 micromol/kg FFM per minute). However, the estimated rate of glycogen-oxidation was 50% lower in obese than in lean men (61 +/- 12 versus 90 +/- 6 micromol/kg FFM per minute; p < 0.05). DISCUSSION: During moderate exercise, obese sedentary men have increased rates of fatty-acid oxidation from nonplasma sources and reduced rates of CHO oxidation, particularly muscle glycogen, compared with lean sedentary men.     

The metabolic responses to high carbohydrate meals with different glycemic indices consumed during recovery from prolonged strenuous exercise

This study investigated the metabolic responses to high glycemic index (HGI) or low glycemic index (LGI) meals consumed during recovery from prolonged exercise. Eight male, trained athletes undertook 2 trials. Following an overnight fast, subjects completed a 90-min run at 70% VO(2max). Meals were provided 30 min and 2 h following cessation of exercise. The plasma glucose responses to both meals were greater in the HGI trial compared to the LGI trial (P < 0.05). Following breakfast, there were no differences in the serum insulin concentrations between the trials; however, following lunch, concentrations were higher in the HGI trial compared to the LGI trial (P < 0.05). This suggests that the glycemic index of the carbohydrates consumed during the immediate post-exercise period might not be important as long as sufficient carbohydrate is consumed. The high insulin concentrations following a HGI meal later in the recovery period could facilitate further muscle glycogen resynthesis.     

Prevalence of hypoglycemia following pre-exercise carbohydrate ingestion is not accompanied By higher insulin sensitivity

Pre-exercise carbohydrate feeding may result in rebound hypoglycemia in some but not all athletes. The aim of the present study was to examine whether insulin sensitivity in athletes who develop rebound hypoglycemia is higher compared with those who do not show rebound hypoglycemia. Twenty trained athletes (VO(2max) of 61.8 +/- 1.4 ml.kg(-1).min(-1)) performed an exercise trial on a cycle ergometer. Forty-five minutes before the start of exercise, subjects consumed 500 ml of a beverage containing 75 g of glucose. The exercise trial consisted of 20 min of submaximal exercise at 74 +/- 1% VO(2max) immediately followed by a time trial. Based upon the plasma glucose nadir reached during submaximal exercise, subjects were assigned to a Hypo group (<3.5 mmol/L) and a Non-hypo group (> or =3.5 mmol/L). An oral glucose tolerance test was performed to obtain an index of insulin sensitivity (ISI). The plasma glucose nadir during submaximal exercise was significantly lower (p <.01) in the Hypo-group (n = 10) compared with the Non-hypo group (n = 10) (2.7 +/- 0.1 vs. 4.1 +/- 0.2 mmol/L, respectively). No difference was found in ISI between the Hypo and the Non-hypo group (3.7+/-0.4 vs. 3.8 +/- 0.5, respectively). The present results suggest that insulin sensitivity does not play an important role in the occurrence of rebound hypoglycemia.     

Aerobic exercise training increases skeletal muscle protein turnover in healthy adults at rest

The effect of a 4-wk aerobic exercise training program (30-45 min, 3-5 d/wk, >or=65% maximal heart rate) on mixed skeletal muscle protein fractional synthetic rate (FSR), fractional breakdown rate (FBR), and net protein balance (FSR - FBR) (NET) was examined in 8 healthy, previously unfit men and women [21.0+/- 0.4 y, 163.7+/- 4.4 cm, 75.6+/- 5.7 kg, 33.5+/- 4.1% body fat, VO(2 peak) 38.6+/- 2.3 mL/(kg.min)] fed eucaloric diets providing 0.85 g protein/(kg.d) for the 6-wk study. Measurements were made at baseline after 2 wk of diet intervention only, and after 4 wk of aerobic exercise training and diet intervention. Primed continuous infusions of ring-[(2)H(5)]-phenylalanine (2 micromol/kg; 0.05 micromol/(kg.min) and [(15)N]-phenylalanine (2 micromol/kg; 0.05 micromol/(kg.min) were used to assess skeletal muscle protein turnover at rest via the precursor-product method. Endurance training improved cardiovascular fitness, with a significant increase in VO(2 peak) (P<0.01) and a significant decrease in running time on a standard course (P<0.01). There were o significant changes in body mass or composition. There was a significant increase in FSR (0.077+/- 0.007 vs. 0.089+/- 0.006%/h, P<0.05) and decrease in NET (FSR - FBR) (-0.023 +/-0.004 vs. -0.072 +/- 0.012%/h, P < 0.05); FBR tended to increase (0.105+/- 0.014 vs. 0.143+/- 0.018%/h; P=0.06) after training. Findings show that aerobic training for 4 wk increases skeletal muscle protein turnover in previously unfit subjects.