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Carbohydrate Utilization and Disposal in Strength/Power Training and Sports: Examining the Underexamined

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Nutritional Supplements in Sports and Exercise

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Abstract

Since the seminal work of Bergström and Hultman almost 50 years ago, a plethora of studies have focused upon carbohydrate utilization and disposal, predominantly in the context of endurance training and competition. Surprisingly, despite carbohydrate (primarily glycogen) being a predominant fuel substrate in strength/power training and sports, a relative paucity of data exists. The advent of low carbohydrate, “keto,” “paleo,” and “train low, compete high” diets has ushered in a widely held belief that even moderate carbohydrate intake is unwarranted and may promote excessive lipogenesis among intensively training individuals. A perusal of the literature wherein muscle glycogen is inaccessible (e.g., McArdle’s disease) or quantified throughout exercise reveals substantial glycogenolysis during intense strength/power and high-intensity intermittent training, contrasted to a dearth of data regarding direct carbohydrate oxidation rates during such types of exercise. A greater understanding of carbohydrate flux and demands during strength/power training and sports may foster new investigations and applications, as well as accelerate training adaptations and performance.

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Disclosure

The authors are employees of Vitargo Global Sciences, LLC, a company that markets carbohydrate-containing supplements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vitargo Global Sciences, LLC, 32565 B Golden Lantern PMB 232, Dana Point, CA, USA

    Anthony L. Almada MSc, FISSN & David Barr BSc, CSCS, CISSN

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  1. Anthony L. Almada MSc, FISSN
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Correspondence to Anthony L. Almada MSc, FISSN .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Exercise Sport Nutrition Laboratory, Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, USA

    Mike Greenwood

  2. Biomedical and Lifestyle Diseases (BioLED) Unit, Institute of Sport, Exercise & Active Living, College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Matthew B. Cooke

  3. The Center For Applied Health Sciences (CAHS), Stow, Ohio, USA

    Tim Ziegenfuss

  4. Nutrition & Applied Clinical Trials, QPS-MRA (Miami Research) & Athletics Department, Florida International University, Miami, Florida, USA

    Douglas S. Kalman

  5. Exercise & Sport Science Laboratory, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale-Davie, Florida, USA

    Jose Antonio

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Almada, A.L., Barr, D. (2015). Carbohydrate Utilization and Disposal in Strength/Power Training and Sports: Examining the Underexamined. In: Greenwood, M., Cooke, M., Ziegenfuss, T., Kalman, D., Antonio, J. (eds) Nutritional Supplements in Sports and Exercise. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18230-8_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18230-8_14

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