Carbohydrate Restriction During Recovery from High-Intensity–Interval Training Enhances Fat Oxidation During Subsequent Exercise and Does Not Compromise Performance When Combined With Caffeine

Background: Carbohydrate restriction can alter substrate utilization and potentially impair endurance performance in female athletes. Caffeine intake may mitigate this performance decrements. Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that maximal fat oxidation (MFO) rate would be...

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Main Authors: Camilla Soegaard, Simon Riis, Jesper Friis Mortensen, Mette Hansen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Current Developments in Nutrition
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299124024545
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author Camilla Soegaard
Simon Riis
Jesper Friis Mortensen
Mette Hansen
author_facet Camilla Soegaard
Simon Riis
Jesper Friis Mortensen
Mette Hansen
author_sort Camilla Soegaard
collection DOAJ
description Background: Carbohydrate restriction can alter substrate utilization and potentially impair endurance performance in female athletes. Caffeine intake may mitigate this performance decrements. Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that maximal fat oxidation (MFO) rate would be enhanced in the carbohydrate (CHO) restricted state in trained females. Additionally, the impact of caffeine intake before exercise under conditions of low CHO availability was examined on time-trial performance. Methods: By using a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 17 female endurance athletes completed 3 experimental blocks. Each block consisted of high-intensity-interval–training (HIT) in the evening, followed by a fat oxidation test to measure MFO rate and a 20-min time trial (20TT) performance the next morning. The females received standardized, isoenergetic diets with different timing of CHO intake: No CHO between exercise sessions without (FASTED) or with 300 mg caffeine (4.1–4.9 mg/kg body mass) (FASTED+CAFF) before morning exercise tests or CHO ingestion after HIT (FED). Results: MFO rate was higher in FASTED+CAFF (0.57 ± 0.04 g/min) than that in FED (0.50 ± 0.04 g/min, P = 0.039) but not different from FASTED condition. Power output performed during the 20TT was higher after FASTED+CAFF (189 ± 9 W) than that after FASTED (+6.9%, P = 0.022) and FED (+4.2%, P = 0.054). Conclusions: CHO restriction during recovery from HIT enhances MFO rate during subsequent exercise compared with the condition where CHOs were consumed during the recovery period, but the effect was only significant when CHO restriction was combined with caffeine supplementation before the MFO test. In addition, caffeine ingestion before exercise in the CHO-restricted state compensates for the decreased work capacity associated with the CHO-restricted state.
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spelling doaj-art-221a4d208271478fb8e91c0ed68035af2025-01-23T05:27:31ZengElsevierCurrent Developments in Nutrition2475-29912025-01-0191104520Carbohydrate Restriction During Recovery from High-Intensity–Interval Training Enhances Fat Oxidation During Subsequent Exercise and Does Not Compromise Performance When Combined With CaffeineCamilla Soegaard0Simon Riis1Jesper Friis Mortensen2Mette Hansen3Department for Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkDepartment for Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkDepartment for Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkCorresponding author.; Department for Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, DenmarkBackground: Carbohydrate restriction can alter substrate utilization and potentially impair endurance performance in female athletes. Caffeine intake may mitigate this performance decrements. Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that maximal fat oxidation (MFO) rate would be enhanced in the carbohydrate (CHO) restricted state in trained females. Additionally, the impact of caffeine intake before exercise under conditions of low CHO availability was examined on time-trial performance. Methods: By using a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover design, 17 female endurance athletes completed 3 experimental blocks. Each block consisted of high-intensity-interval–training (HIT) in the evening, followed by a fat oxidation test to measure MFO rate and a 20-min time trial (20TT) performance the next morning. The females received standardized, isoenergetic diets with different timing of CHO intake: No CHO between exercise sessions without (FASTED) or with 300 mg caffeine (4.1–4.9 mg/kg body mass) (FASTED+CAFF) before morning exercise tests or CHO ingestion after HIT (FED). Results: MFO rate was higher in FASTED+CAFF (0.57 ± 0.04 g/min) than that in FED (0.50 ± 0.04 g/min, P = 0.039) but not different from FASTED condition. Power output performed during the 20TT was higher after FASTED+CAFF (189 ± 9 W) than that after FASTED (+6.9%, P = 0.022) and FED (+4.2%, P = 0.054). Conclusions: CHO restriction during recovery from HIT enhances MFO rate during subsequent exercise compared with the condition where CHOs were consumed during the recovery period, but the effect was only significant when CHO restriction was combined with caffeine supplementation before the MFO test. In addition, caffeine ingestion before exercise in the CHO-restricted state compensates for the decreased work capacity associated with the CHO-restricted state.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299124024545periodized carbohydrate intakemoderately trained womenfat oxidationcaffeineexercise performance
spellingShingle Camilla Soegaard
Simon Riis
Jesper Friis Mortensen
Mette Hansen
Carbohydrate Restriction During Recovery from High-Intensity–Interval Training Enhances Fat Oxidation During Subsequent Exercise and Does Not Compromise Performance When Combined With Caffeine
Current Developments in Nutrition
periodized carbohydrate intake
moderately trained women
fat oxidation
caffeine
exercise performance
title Carbohydrate Restriction During Recovery from High-Intensity–Interval Training Enhances Fat Oxidation During Subsequent Exercise and Does Not Compromise Performance When Combined With Caffeine
title_full Carbohydrate Restriction During Recovery from High-Intensity–Interval Training Enhances Fat Oxidation During Subsequent Exercise and Does Not Compromise Performance When Combined With Caffeine
title_fullStr Carbohydrate Restriction During Recovery from High-Intensity–Interval Training Enhances Fat Oxidation During Subsequent Exercise and Does Not Compromise Performance When Combined With Caffeine
title_full_unstemmed Carbohydrate Restriction During Recovery from High-Intensity–Interval Training Enhances Fat Oxidation During Subsequent Exercise and Does Not Compromise Performance When Combined With Caffeine
title_short Carbohydrate Restriction During Recovery from High-Intensity–Interval Training Enhances Fat Oxidation During Subsequent Exercise and Does Not Compromise Performance When Combined With Caffeine
title_sort carbohydrate restriction during recovery from high intensity interval training enhances fat oxidation during subsequent exercise and does not compromise performance when combined with caffeine
topic periodized carbohydrate intake
moderately trained women
fat oxidation
caffeine
exercise performance
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299124024545
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