title: Effect of a small dose of alcohol on the endurance performance of trained cyclists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an acute small ethanol (EtOH) dose (0.5 ml EtOH/kg fat-free mass, combined with carbohydrate) in a drink on endurance performance of trained cyclists.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen well-trained male cyclists took part in this study. A 60-min cycling endurance performance test (time trial) was performed in a calorimetric chamber after drinking an EtOH (30 +/- 1.8 ml) or a non-EtOH control (C) drink.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, EtOH induced a significant decrease in the average cycling power output (PO) (EtOH: 233 +/- 23 W versus C: 243 +/- 24 W, P < 0.01). The time course of mechanical PO showed an early decrease during the EtOH trial as compared to C (P < 0.01). Due to the lower PO, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production and glucose oxidation were significantly lower (P < 0.05) as compared to C. Relative to PO, heart rate response and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were increased by EtOH as compared to C (P < 0.05). In contrast, EtOH did not influence gross work efficiency, glycaemia and blood lactate concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results show that the acute low dose of EtOH decreased endurance performance. An increase of cardio-vascular strain and psychobiological mechanisms may explain this decrease of endurance performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. virgile.lecoultre@unil.ch
authors.forename: Virgile
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lecoultre
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Schutz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000187:drug effects / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol