ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana - Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2019 April;178(4):221-4

DOI: 10.23736/S0393-3660.18.03762-2

Copyright © 2018 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Effects of self-implemented carbohydrate cycling and moderate to high intensity resistance exercise on body fat in body builders

Majid M. SYED-ABDUL ^{1, 2, 3} ✉, Dhwani S. SONI ^{1, 2, 3}, Jason D. WAGGANER ^{1, 2, 3}

¹ Departments of Health, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO, USA; ² Department of Human Performance, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO, USA; ³ Department of Recreation, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO, USA

BACKGROUND: Carbohydrate (CHO) resources are limited during moderate- to high-intensity resistance exercises (RE) which may limit performance. Increased intake of CHO prior to RE has been shown to enhance performance. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of self-implemented CHO cycling program (CCP) and RE on collegiate athlete body builders.
METHODS: Two body builders [males, participant-1 (P1):21 y and participant-2 (P2): 22 y] at a Division I University performed a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scan before and after a five-week CCP to measure body fat percent (BF%) and bone mineral density (BMD). P1 performed high-intensity [60-90 mins, 75-90% of one repetition max (1RM)] resistance training (HRT) and P2 performed moderate-intensity (30-45 mins, 60-75%1RM) resistance training (MRT).
RESULTS: Total BF% was reduced by 1.1% in P1 and 3.6% in P2. The decrease in BF% among both the participants can be primarily attributed to the moderate- to high-intensity resistance exercise program. Although P2 performed MRT, a greater relative decrease in BF% was recorded (24.5%) compared to P1 (14.5%). However, P1 had a lower baseline BF% (7.6) than P2 (14.7).
CONCLUSIONS: Longer duration MRT may be more effective in reducing BF% if baseline values are at higher end of average athlete recommendation (9-15%).

KEY WORDS: Resistance training - Carbohydrate metabolism - Athletic performance