The effect of carbohydrate loading on performance in the follicular and luteal menstrual cycle phases

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of carbohydrate loading (CHO) on physiologic and performance variables in seven moderately trained females (aged 30.9 ± 9.6 years; VO2max 51.8 ± 2.3 ml/kg/minute) during the follicular and luteal menstrual cycle phases. Participants completed a 60 minute treadmill run at 70% VO2max followed by a timed run to exhaustion at 80% VO2max under four conditions: (1) follicular phase, CHO loading (F/CHO); (2) follicular phase, normal mixed diet (F/NMD); (3) luteal phase, CHO loading (L/CHO); (4) luteal phase, normal mixed diet (L/NMD). CHO loading was accomplished using a modified regime and a tapered running program. Performance time to volitional exhaustion at 80% VO2max was significantly increased in L/CHO over L/NMD (p