The effects of exercise and diet manipulation on the capacity to perform prolonged exercise in the heat and in the cold in trained humans

Abstract

1. This study examined the effects of exercise and diet manipulation intended to alter initial muscle glycogen levels on the capacity to perform prolonged exercise at two ambient temperatures. 2. Six well-trained cyclists participated in randomized order in two diet and exercise regimens each lasting 8 days and comprising four cycle tests to exhaustion at 70 % of maximum oxygen uptake. On days 1 and 5, subjects exercised to exhaustion to deplete muscle glycogen. Three days after each depletion trial a diet providing 10 % (low carbohydrate (CHO)) or 80 % (high CHO) of energy as CHO was consumed, and each diet was followed by a performance trial at the same ambient temperature, either 10 or 30 C (days 4 and 8). This schedule was repeated after a week, but performance trials were carried out at the other ambient temperature. 3. In the cold, cycling time increased (median (range)) from 89.2 min (78.0-129.5 min) on the low CHO trial to 158.2 min (116.9-165.6 min) on the high CHO trial (P < 0.01). In the heat, cycling time increased from 44.0 min (31.8-51.4 min) on the low CHO trial to 53.2 min (50.2-82.2 min) on the high CHO trial (P = 0.02). Total CHO oxidized during exercise in the cold after the low CHO diet was higher than in the heat after either diet suggesting that exercise in the heat was terminated before all available CHO stores had been emptied.

Figure 1. Schematic representation of the familiarization period (i) and the two diet and exercise protocols (ii and iii)

Figure 2. Time to exhaustion during the four performance trials

Columns and bars represent median and range. Significant differences between trials are as follows: a, 1A vs. 2A; b, 1A vs. 1B; c, 1A vs. 2B; d, 2A vs. 1B; e, 2A vs. 2B; f, 1B vs. 2B.

Figure 3. Respiratory exchange ratio, oxygen uptake and rate of CHO and fat oxidation during the four performance trials

Mean values and s.d. are shown. Significant differences between trials are as follows: a, 1A vs. 2A; b, 1A vs. 2B; c, 2A vs. 1B; d, 1B vs. 2B. * Significantly different from 15 min time point.

Figure 4. Total CHO and fat oxidation during the four performance trials

Means and s.d. are shown. Significant differences between trials are as follows: a, 1A vs. 2A; b, 1A vs. 1B; c, 2A vs. 1B; d, 2A vs. 2B; e, 1B vs. 2B; f, 1A vs. 2B.

Figure 5. Heart rate and rating of perceived exertion during the four performance trials

Mean values and s.d. are shown. Significant differences between trials are as follows: a, 1A vs. 2A; b, 1A vs. 1B; c, 2A vs. 1B; d, 2A vs. 2B; e, 1A vs. 2B; f, 1B vs. 2B. * Significantly different from 5 min (HR) and 10 min (RPE) time point.

Figure 6. Rectal and weighted mean skin temperatures during the four performance trials

Mean values and s.d. are shown. Significant differences between trials are as follows: a, 1A vs. 1B; b, 2A vs. 1B; c, 2A vs. 2B; d, 1A vs. 2B; e, 2A vs. 1B; f, 1B vs. 2B. * Significantly different from resting value.

Figure 7. Blood glucose and lactate concentrations during the four performance trials

Mean values and s.d. are shown. Significant differences between trials are as follows: a, 1A vs. 2A; b, 1A vs. 2B; c, 2A vs. 1B; d, 1B vs. 2B; e, 2A vs. 2B. * Significantly different from resting value.

Figure 8. Changes in plasma volume during the four performance trials

Mean values and s.d. are shown. * Significant reduction in plasma volume from the pre-exercise value.