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Carbohydrate Ingestion/Supplementation for Resistance Exercise and Training

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Summary

The physiological and performance effects of carbohydrate ingestion/supplementation on aerobic endurance exercise have been extensively studied. However, little attention has been given to the effects of carbohydrate ingestion on resistance exercise and training. Recent evidence suggests that resistance exercise can elicit a considerable glycogenolytic effect, which can lead to fatigue and strength loss.

The ability of carbohydrate ingestion immediately before and during resistance exercise to enhance performance is unclear at present, however carbohydrate ingestion following resistance exercise has been shown to enhance muscle glycogen resynthesis. This may decrease recovery time following resistance exercise and enable an increase in training volume which may enhance physiological adaptations. Also, carbohydrate ingestion during or immediately after resistance exercise has been shown to increase postexercise insulin and growth hormone levels, which may lead to increased protein synthesis and hypertrophy, although this has not been systematically investigated.

Despite the potential benefits of carbohydrate ingestion for performance of resistance exercise and adaptation to resistance training, at present little empirical evidence is available to support this hypothesis.

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  1. Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, USA

    Michael S. Conley & Michael H. Stone

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Conley, M.S., Stone, M.H. Carbohydrate Ingestion/Supplementation for Resistance Exercise and Training. Sports Med. 21, 7–17 (1996). https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-199621010-00002

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