Effect of ingestion of medium-chain triacylglycerols on moderate- and high-intensity exercise in recreational athletes.

Summary Medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCT) are known to hydrolyze readily and completely to fatty acids and to be metabolized more easily by � -oxidation than long-chain triacylglycerols (LCT). Therefore, we investigated the effect of 2 wk of ingestion of food containing a small amount (6 g) of MCT on energy metabolism during moderate-intensity exercise and high-intensity exercise in recreational athletes. For comparison, the subjects were administered food containing MCT or LCT for 14 d, and were instructed to perform cycle ergometer exercise at a workload corresponding to 60% peak O 2 uptake (V · O 2 ) for 40 min followed by a workload corresponding to 80% peak V · O 2 until exhaustion. Blood lactate concentration, V · O 2 , V · CO 2 , and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured at rest and during exercise. The exercise time to exhaustion at a workload corresponding to 80% peak