Environmental Temperature and Glycogen Resynthesis

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of hot (H) and room temperature (RT) recovery environments on glycogen resynthesis. Nine male participants completed two trials, cycling for 1 h in a temperature-controlled chamber (32.6°C), followed by 4 h of recovery at 32.6°C (H) or 22.2°C (RT). Rectal temperature was continuously recorded. A carbohydrate beverage (1.8 g/kg bodyweight) was supplied at 0 and 2 h post-exercise. Muscle biopsies were taken immediately, 2 h, and 4 h post-exercise for glycogen analysis. Blood samples were taken at 30, 60, 120, 150, 180, and 240 min into recovery for glucose and insulin analysis. Expired gas was collected at 105 min and 225 min into recovery to calculate whole body carbohydrate oxidation. Average core temperature, whole body carbohydrate oxidation, and serum glucose at 120, 150, 180 and 240 min was higher in H compared to RT (p<0.05). Muscle glycogen was higher in RT vs. H at 4 h (105±28 vs. 88±24 mmol·kg⁻¹ wet weight, respectively; p<0.05), but no different at 0 and 2 h. There was no difference in serum insulin. These data indicate the importance of minimizing the exposure to heat after exercise to improve recovery, specifically to improve glycogen resynthesis.

Key words

carbohydrate - recovery - heat - glucose - insulin

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