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Rapid carbohydrate loading after a short bout of near maximal-intensity exercise
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Rapid carbohydrate loading after a short bout of near maximal-intensity exercise

T.J. Fairchild, S. Fletcher, P. Steele, C. Goodman, B. Dawson and P.A. Fournier
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Vol.34(6), pp.980-986
2002
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200206000-00012
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Abstract

Purpose: One limitation shared by all published carbohydrate-loading regimens is that 2-6 d are required for the attainment of supranormal muscle glycogen levels. Because high rates of glycogen resynthesis are reported during recovery from exercise of near-maximal intensity and that these rates could in theory allow muscle to attain supranormal glycogen levels in less than 24 h, the purpose of this study was to examine whether a combination of a short bout of high-intensity exercise with 1 d of a high-carbohydrate intake offers the basis for an improved carbohydrate-loading regimen. Methods: Seven endurance-trained athletes cycled for 150 s at 130% V̇O2peak followed by 30 s of all-out cycling. During the following 24 h, each subject was asked to ingest 12 g·kg-1 of lean body mass (the equivalent of 10.3 g·kg-1 body mass) of high-carbohydrate foods with a high glycemic index. Results: Muscle glycogen increased from preloading levels (± SE) of 109.1 ± 8.2 to 198.2 ± 13.1 mmol·kg-1 wet weight within only 24 h, these levels being comparable to or higher than those reported by others over a 2- to 6-d regimen. Densitometric analysis of muscle sections stained with periodic acid-Schiff not only corroborated these findings but also indicated that after 24 h of high-carbohydrate intake, glycogen stores reached similar levels in Type I, IIa, and IIb muscle fibers. Conclusion: This study shows that a combination of a short-term bout of high-intensity exercise followed by a high-carbohydrate intake enables athletes to attain supranormal muscle glycogen levels within only 24 h.

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Citation topics
1 Clinical & Life Sciences
1.172 Sports Science
1.172.648 Exercise Physiology
Web Of Science research areas
Sport Sciences
ESI research areas
Clinical Medicine
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