Impact of Overnight Fasted State Versus Fed State on Adaptations to Resistance Training: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

The aim was to verify the effects of 12 weeks of resistance training (RT) performed in the fasted state compared with the fed state on body composition and physical performance in young adults. Participants were randomly assigned into fasting RT group (Fast-RT, n = 15) and fed RT group (Fed-RT, n = 13). Both groups trained two weekly resistance exercise sessions after an overnight fast or between 1 and 2 hr after consumption of a carbohydrate-rich meal, associated with isocaloric nutritional guidance. Assessments of body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorption), quadriceps muscle thickness (ultrasonography), maximum dynamic strength (one repetition maximum test), and muscle power in bench press and knee-extension exercises were performed before and after 12 weeks of intervention. Both Fast-RT and Fed-RT groups showed increases (p time ≤ .01) in quadriceps muscle thickness (1.21 and 1.18 cm, respectively; p group = .371; p Group × Time = .871), maximum dynamic strength (bench press: 10.53 and 4.89 kg, respectively; p group = .251; p Group × Time = .268; knee extension: 28.53 and 29.31 kg, respectively; p group = .919; p Group × Time = .846), and muscle power (knee extension mean power 70% one repetition maximum: 59.28 and 46.21 W, respectively; p group = .833; p Group × Time = .616; knee extension maximal power 70% one repetition maximum: 100.65 and 54.76 W, respectively; p group = .812; p Group × Time = .409). Regardless of food consumption prior to the sessions (fasted state and fed state), RT performed twice weekly across 12 weeks was associated with improvements in muscle hypertrophy and neuromuscular performance in young adults.

Keywords: fasting; physical performance; strength training.