A moderate carbohydrate and fat diet does not impair strength performance in moderately trained males.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this investigation was to study the effects of varied levels of dietary carbohydrate and fat intake on exercise training and high intensity exercise performance in moderately strength trained, aerobic trained and untrained males.


METHODS
Subjects (6 strength trained, 6 aerobically trained serving as an active control group, 6 sedentary) consumed isoenergetic diets considered either high CHO/low fat (HC/LF: total energy 62% CHO, 20% fat, 18% protein) or moderate CHO and fat (MC/MF: total energy 42% CHO, 40% fat, 18% protein) in a randomly assigned crossover design. Each dietary treatment was three weeks in length. Prior to the study and following each dietary treatment, muscular strength and endurance was determined (isokinetic knee extension and flexion, standard concentric free weight bench press).


RESULTS
No differences as a result of the dietary treatment were seen in isokinetic peak torque, total work production, single repetition maximum (1 RM) bench press, or number of bench press repetitions at 80% 1 RM. Self-reported exercise log data showed no dietary effect on the subject's ability to maintain training level.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that varying dietary macronutrient content (HC/LF or MC/MF) had no effect on exercise training or strength exercise performance in moderately trained (aerobic and strength) or sedentary males.
Van Zant
R S
RS
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Findlay, Findlay, Ohio 45840, USA.
Conway
J M
JM
Seale
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000379:methods; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D019415:Torque; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats