A recent Sports Medicine-Open study conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate how varying carbohydrate intake and the glycemic index (GI) impact performance in endurance training regimens in men.
Carbohydrates are vital for endurance exercise performance, requiring optimal metabolic flexibility and glycogen stores.
The 10-week study aimed to assess and compare the effects of the low carbohydrates and high fat diet on metabolic parameters, running economy (RE), peak running speed (PRS), and peak oxygen consumption.
These parameters were assessed by measuring muscle energy stores, a five-kilometer time trial (TT) performance, and a graded exercise test.
The results revealed that the LOW-GI diet led to reduced energy intake, decreased blood lactate concentrations during exercise, higher values in the graded exercise test, maintenance of glycogen stores, and improved TT performance.
A recent Sports Medicine-Open study conducted a randomized controlled trial to evaluate how varying carbohydrate intake and the glycemic index (GI) impact performance in endurance training regimens in men.
Carbohydrates are vital for endurance exercise performance, requiring optimal metabolic flexibility and glycogen stores. Muscles transition from fats to carbohydrates for ATP production as exercise intensity rises. High-carbohydrate diets with low glycemic index enhance metabolic flexibility and boost performance.
The 10-week study aimed to assess and compare the effects of the low carbohydrates and high fat diet on metabolic parameters, running economy (RE), peak running speed (PRS), and peak oxygen consumption. These parameters were assessed by measuring muscle energy stores, a five-kilometer time trial (TT) performance, and a graded exercise test.
The results revealed that the LOW-GI diet led to reduced energy intake, decreased blood lactate concentrations during exercise, higher values in the graded exercise test, maintenance of glycogen stores, and improved TT performance. Further, HIGH-GI improved performance at high intensities and increased muscle glycogen content. However, after 10 weeks, fat oxidation was impaired.
