Effect of a low carbohydrate, high fat diet versus a high carbohydrate diet on exercise efficiency and economy in recreational male athletes. 2023

A Mireille Baart, and Hennes Schaminee, and Marco Mensink, and Rieneke Terink
Division of Human Nutrition and Health, University of Wageningen, Wageningen, the Netherlands - mireille.baart@wur.nl.

BACKGROUND Exercise efficiency and economy are key determinants of endurance exercise performance. In this cross-over intervention trial, we investigated the effect of adherence to a low carbohydrate, high fat (LCHF) diet versus a high carbohydrate (HC) diet on gross efficiency (GE) and (OC) during exercise, both after 2 days and after 14 days of adherence. METHODS Fourteen recreational male athletes followed a two-week LCHF diet (<10 energy % carbohydrate) and a two-week HC diet (>50 energy % carbohydrate), in random order, with a wash-out period of three weeks in between. After 2 and 14 days on each diet, the athletes performed a 90-minutes submaximal exercise session on a bicycle ergometer. Indirect calorimetry measurements were done after 60 minutes of exercise to calculate GE and OC. RESULTS GE was significantly lower on the LCHF diet compared to the HC diet, after 2 days (17.6±1.9 vs. 18.8±1.2%, P=0.011, for the LCHF and HC diet respectively), not after 14 days. OC was significantly higher on the LCHF diet compared to the HC diet, after 2 days (1191±138 vs. 1087±72 mL O<inf>2</inf>/kCal, P=0.003, for the LCHF and HC diet respectively), and showed a strong tendency to remain higher after 14 days, P=0.018. CONCLUSIONS Although LCHF diets are popular strategies to increase fat oxidation during exercise, adherence to a LCHF diet was associated with a lower exercise efficiency and economy compared to a HC diet.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D004040 Dietary Carbohydrates Carbohydrates present in food comprising digestible sugars and starches and indigestible cellulose and other dietary fibers. The former are the major source of energy. The sugars are in beet and cane sugar, fruits, honey, sweet corn, corn syrup, milk and milk products, etc.; the starches are in cereal grains, legumes (FABACEAE), tubers, etc. (From Claudio & Lagua, Nutrition and Diet Therapy Dictionary, 3d ed, p32, p277) Carbohydrates, Dietary,Carbohydrate, Dietary,Dietary Carbohydrate
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015444 Exercise Physical activity which is usually regular and done with the intention of improving or maintaining PHYSICAL FITNESS or HEALTH. Contrast with PHYSICAL EXERTION which is concerned largely with the physiologic and metabolic response to energy expenditure. Aerobic Exercise,Exercise, Aerobic,Exercise, Isometric,Exercise, Physical,Isometric Exercise,Physical Activity,Acute Exercise,Exercise Training,Activities, Physical,Activity, Physical,Acute Exercises,Aerobic Exercises,Exercise Trainings,Exercise, Acute,Exercises,Exercises, Acute,Exercises, Aerobic,Exercises, Isometric,Exercises, Physical,Isometric Exercises,Physical Activities,Physical Exercise,Physical Exercises,Training, Exercise,Trainings, Exercise
D054874 Athletic Performance Carrying out of specific physical routines or procedures by one who is trained or skilled in physical activity. Performance is influenced by a combination of physiological, psychological, and socio-cultural factors. Sports Performance,Athletic Performances,Performance, Athletic,Performance, Sports,Performances, Athletic,Performances, Sports,Sports Performances
D056352 Athletes Individuals who have developed skills, physical stamina and strength or participants in SPORTS or other physical activities. College Athletes,Elite Athletes,Professional Athletes,Athlete,Athlete, College,Athlete, Elite,Athlete, Professional,Athletes, College,Athletes, Elite,Athletes, Professional,College Athlete,Elite Athlete,Professional Athlete
D059305 Diet, High-Fat Consumption of excessive DIETARY FATS. Diet, High Fat,Diets, High Fat,Diets, High-Fat,High Fat Diet,High Fat Diets,High-Fat Diet,High-Fat Diets
D018592 Cross-Over Studies Studies comparing two or more treatments or interventions in which the subjects or patients, upon completion of the course of one treatment, are switched to another. In the case of two treatments, A and B, half the subjects are randomly allocated to receive these in the order A, B and half to receive them in the order B, A. A criticism of this design is that effects of the first treatment may carry over into the period when the second is given. (Last, A Dictionary of Epidemiology, 2d ed) Cross-Over Design,Cross-Over Trials,Crossover Design,Crossover Studies,Crossover Trials,Cross Over Design,Cross Over Studies,Cross Over Trials,Cross-Over Designs,Cross-Over Study,Crossover Designs,Crossover Study,Design, Cross-Over,Design, Crossover,Designs, Cross-Over,Designs, Crossover,Studies, Cross-Over,Studies, Crossover,Study, Cross-Over,Study, Crossover,Trial, Cross-Over,Trial, Crossover,Trials, Cross-Over,Trials, Crossover

Related Publications

A Mireille Baart, and Hennes Schaminee, and Marco Mensink, and Rieneke Terink
January 2022, Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity : targets and therapy,
A Mireille Baart, and Hennes Schaminee, and Marco Mensink, and Rieneke Terink
December 2019, Journal of sports science & medicine,
A Mireille Baart, and Hennes Schaminee, and Marco Mensink, and Rieneke Terink
February 2017, Journal of human kinetics,
A Mireille Baart, and Hennes Schaminee, and Marco Mensink, and Rieneke Terink
February 2002, Journal of the American College of Nutrition,
A Mireille Baart, and Hennes Schaminee, and Marco Mensink, and Rieneke Terink
February 1992, Hospital practice (Office ed.),
A Mireille Baart, and Hennes Schaminee, and Marco Mensink, and Rieneke Terink
July 1988, Lancet (London, England),
Copied contents to your clipboard!