Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

A perspective on fat intake in athletes.

D R Pendergast1, J J Leddy, J T Venkatraman

  • 1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, New York 14214, USA.

Journal of the American College of Nutrition
|June 29, 2000
PubMed
Summary

High-fat diets can enhance endurance performance in trained athletes by increasing fat oxidation, sparing carbohydrates. This research suggests a balanced macronutrient intake for optimal athletic results.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Principles for return to learn after concussion.

International journal of clinical practice·2014
Same author

Application of quantitative and progressive exercise rehabilitation to patients with osteoarthritis of the knee.

Journal of back and musculoskeletal rehabilitation·2014
Same author

Effects of calorie restriction and ω-3 dietary fat on aging in short-and long-lived rodents.

Age·2013
Same author

Energy cost of breathing at depth: effect of respiratory muscle training.

Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc·2012
Same author

Is the rate of whole-body nitrogen elimination influenced by exercise?

Undersea & hyperbaric medicine : journal of the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, Inc·2012
Same author

Influence of exercise on nutritional requirements.

European journal of applied physiology·2010

Area of Science:

  • Sports Science
  • Human Physiology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Endurance performance relies on maximal aerobic power, substrate availability (carbohydrates [CHO] and fats), and sustained power output.
  • Fatigue in endurance events is linked to reduced muscle glycogen, with CHO intake historically emphasized, potentially leading to low caloric intake in athletes.
  • Trained individuals exhibit higher fat oxidation capacity, which spares glycogen during prolonged exercise.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent studies on the role of dietary fat intake and oxidation in endurance performance.
  • To evaluate the impact of high-fat diets on endurance capacity in trained athletes.
  • To propose a recommended dietary composition for endurance athletes based on current research.

Main Methods:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Review of recent scientific literature focusing on fat intake, fat oxidation, and endurance performance.
  • Analysis of studies involving trained athletes fed iso-caloric high-fat diets (42-55%) versus low-fat diets (10-15%).
  • Examination of the relationship between diet composition, exercise intensity (percentage of maximal aerobic power), and endurance capacity.

Main Results:

  • High-fat diets, while maintaining adequate CHO levels, significantly increased endurance in trained male and female athletes compared to low-fat diets.
  • The performance-enhancing effect of high-fat diets was more pronounced at lower percentages of maximal aerobic power.
  • Increased fat intake and oxidation appear to be beneficial for endurance, contrary to the traditional emphasis solely on CHO.

Conclusions:

  • Dietary fat plays a crucial role in endurance performance, particularly in trained athletes with enhanced fat oxidation capabilities.
  • A baseline diet of 20% protein, 30% CHO, and 30% fat, with flexible distribution of remaining calories between CHO and fat, is suggested.
  • Further research is warranted to optimize macronutrient strategies for endurance athletes based on exercise intensity and duration.