title: Chronic medium-chain triacylglycerol consumption and endurance performance in trained runners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to assess the effects of chronic consumption of medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCT) on endurance running performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  participants completed the study in a randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled, double-blind fashion.
  
  
  METHODS
  participants were recruited from the general community to participate in this university based study.
  
  
  METHODS
  twelve trained male endurance runners (30.5+/-5.2 years of age) completed the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  participants consumed dietary supplements containing either 56 g of corn oil (LCT) or 60 g of MCT oil daily for 2 weeks. Following each dietary phase, participants completed a maximal treadmill test followed by an endurance treadmill test in which participants ran at 85% VO2max for 30 min proceeded by 75% VO2max until exhaustion.
  
  
  METHODS
  blood was taken at rest and after 45 min of exercise to assess concentrations of lactate, glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate (beta-HBA), free fatty acids (FFA), glycerol and triacylglycerols (TG). Performance was assessed as time to exhaustion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VO2max (72.0+/-8.0 vs 72.4+/- 9.0 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1)) and endurance time (99.8+/-23.5 vs 106.5+/-29.4 min) did not differ (p>0.05) between MCT and LCT trials, respectively. No differences (p>0.05) in lactate, glucose, beta-HBA, FFA, glycerol or TG were detected between trials. Respiratory exchange ratio (RER) was higher (p<0.05) at 15 min for the MCT trial (0.97+/-0.10) versus the LCT trial (0.90+/-0.20), but was similar between trials at other timepoints.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicate that chronic MCT consumption neither enhances endurance nor significantly alters performance-related metabolism in trained male runners.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise and Nutritional Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-7251, USA.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Misell
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Lagomarcino
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kern
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D014280:Triglycerides