Combining low-carb training methods to boost endurance athlete performance

Muscle glycogen levels were significantly lower in the low carbohydrate but high leucine group (271 ± 85 mmol kg(-1) dw) compared to the high carbohydrate group (583 ± 158 mmol kg(-1) dw) pre-exercise.

• Exercise capacity was reduced in the low carbohydrate plus leucine group, lasting 100 ± 17 minutes compared to 158 ± 29 minutes in the high carbohydrate group.
• Both dietary conditions resulted in comparable increases in gene expression related to mitochondrial and muscle protein responses, such as AMPKα2 and PGC-1α, post-exercise.
• Despite higher leucine availability, p70S6K activity remained suppressed at 3 hours post-exercise in the low carbohydrate plus leucine condition.
• In the high carbohydrate condition, muscle glycogen resynthesis was associated with elevated p70S6K activity (53 ± 30 fmol min(-1) mg(-1)).
• CHO restriction may promote efficient mitochondrial signaling during exercise while affecting the post-exercise recovery of specific muscle signaling pathways.

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