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Human Performance Enhancement in Sports and Exercise: Nutritional Factors - "Carbohydrate Loading"
1Director Applied Physiology Laboratory, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Abstract:
The nutritional dietary procedure known as "carbohydrate loading" has been shown to substantially increase muscle glycogen levels. Increased muscle glycogen has a positive ergogenic effect on exercise performance in sporting events longer than 90 minutes in duration. However, the efficacy of the carbohydrate loading procedure is somewhat variable. This variability may be attributable to factors that influence the ability of the muscle to super-compensate with glycogen. This article discusses those factors and aspects of the procedure that add to the variability in an attempt to improve the success of sportsmen and women (i.e., athletes) attempting to perform the carbohydrate loading procedure and improve their exercise performance.
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