Metabolic availability of medium-chain triglycerides coingested with carbohydrates during prolonged exercise

Sep 1, 1995Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985)

Use of Medium-Chain Fats with Carbohydrates for Energy During Long Exercise

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Abstract

During the CHO+MCT trial, 72% of the ingested medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) were oxidized in well-trained athletes.

MCT oxidation was measured using a special tracer in breath samples.
In the MCT trial, only 33% of the ingested MCTs were oxidized.
The oxidation rate of MCTs increased more rapidly when combined with carbohydrates compared to MCTs alone.
In all trials, the oxidation rate stabilized at 0.12 g/min during the later stages of exercise.
The findings suggest that MCTs could serve as an additional energy source alongside glucose during prolonged exercise.

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The present study examined the metabolic response to medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) ingestion with or without carbohydrates (CHOs). Eight well-trained athletes cycled 4 x 180 min at 50% maximal work rate (57% maximal O2 consumption). Subjects drank a bolus of 4 ml/kg at the start and 2 ml/kg every 20 min during exercise of either a 15% (214 g) CHO solution (CHO trial), an equicaloric 149 g CHO-29 g MCT suspension (CHO+MCT trial), 214 g CHO [high CHO (HCHO)]-29 g MCT suspension (HCHO+MCT trial) or 29 g MCT solution (MCT trial). Exogenous MCT oxidation was measured by adding a [1,1,1-13C]trioctanoate tracer to the MCT oil. 13CO2 enrichment of breath samples were measured every 15 min. During the second hour (60- to 120-min period), the amount of MCT oxidized was 72% of the amount ingested during the CHO+MCT trial, whereas during the MCT trial only 33% was oxidized. The rate of MCT oxidation increased more rapidly during the HCHO+MCT and CHO+MCT trials compared with the MCT trial, yet in all three cases the oxidation rate stabilized at 0.12 g/min during 120-180 min of exercise. It is concluded that more MCTs are oxidized when ingested in combination with CHOs. Data do confirm the hypothesis that oral MCTs might serve as an energy source in addition to glucose during exercise because the metabolic availability of MCTs was high during the last hour of exercise, with oxidation rates being approximately 70% of the ingestion rate.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

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Metabolic availability of medium-chain triglycerides coingested with carbohydrates during prolonged exercise

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