The effect of carbohydrate loading on performance in the follicular and luteal menstrual cycle phases
Date
2002
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
ORCID
Type
Degree Level
Masters
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<0.05). There was a significant menstrual phase difference in RER and oxidation values, irrespective of diet intervention. RER and estimated CHO oxidation values were significantly greater in the luteal phase than the follicular phase. Fat oxidation was significantly greater in the follicular phase than the luteal phase. The pattern of blood substrate response showed a general increase in utilization of blood glucose, lactate, free fatty acids, and glycerol during the 60 minute treadmill run at 70% VO₂max. Due to inadmissible lab values, the sample was not large enough to run a valid ANOVA. It is suggested from these results that a CHO loading regime in the luteal menstrual cycle phase may offer a performance advantage to the moderately trained female endurance athlete compared to a normal mixed diet in the same phase.
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Citation
Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Department
College of Kinesiology
Program
College of Kinesiology