Maximal lipidic power in high competitive level triathletes and cyclists

Carlos González-Haro ^1*, Pedro A Galilea ², José Manuel González-de-Suso ³, Franchek Drobnic ⁴ and Jesus F Escanero ⁵

¹ Escuela Profesional de Medicina de la Actividad FÃsica y el Deporte, UB, Barcelona, Spain
² Centro de Alto Rendimiento de Sant Cugat del Vallés (CAR). Barcelona, Spain
³ Real Sociedad de Fútbol SAD, Servicios Médicos, Donosita, Spain
⁴ Centro de Alto Rendimiento de Sant Cugat del Vallés (CAR), Barcelona, Spain
⁵ Departamento de Farmacología y Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, UZ Zaragoza, Spain

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ghcarlos{at}gmail.com.

Accepted 9 October 2006

Abstract

Objective: To describe the fat oxidation rate in triathlon and different modalities of endurance cycling.

Methods: Thirty-four endurance athletes (15 TM (male triathletes), 4 TF (female triathletes), 11 C (road cyclists) and 4 M (mountain bikers)) performed a progressive cycloergometer test until exhaustion. VO_2max, minimal lactate concentration ([La^-]_min), lactic threshold (LT), individual lactic threshold (ILT), maximal (Fat_max, Fat_max zone) and minimal (Fat_min) fat oxidation rate were determined in each of the groups and were compared by means of one- way ANOVA.

Results: No significant differences were found for Fat_max, Fat_min or for the Fat_max zone expressed as fat oxidation rate (g·min^-1). Intensities -20 %, -10 % and -5 % Fat_max were significantly lower for M with respect to C and TF, expressed as % VO_2max. Intensities +20 %, +10 % and +5 % Fat_max were significantly lower for M with respect to TM and TF, and for TM in comparison to TF, expressed as % VO_2max. LT and [La^-]_min did not show significant differences with respect to Fat_max. LT was found at the same relative work intensity with respect to the higher part of Fat_max zone, and [La^-] _min at the same with respect to the lower part of Fat_max zone.

Conclusions: The relative intensity (% VO_2max) of Fat_max and the Fat_max zone may explain the different endurance adaptations of the athletes according to their sporting discipline. LT and [La^-]_min were found at different relative work intensities with respect to that of Fat_max even though they belonged to the Fat_max zone.

Key Words: aerobic lipolytic power system, endurance exercise, lipid metabolism, maximal fat oxidation, minimal fat oxidation

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