The influence of medium-chain triglycerides supplementation in ultra-endurance exercise performance

Abstract

The ultra-endurance competitions represent a great challenge in the world of sports. The energetic cost of an ultra-endurance event can vary from 5,000 to 18,000 kcal a day. Because of this great demand, many strategies to improve performance have been developed during the last years, like the medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) supplementation in combination with carbohydrates (CBO). The goal of MCT supplementation is to increase the free fatty acids (FFA) utilization as energy source, sparing the body glycogen to the end of the competition. When compared to long-chain triglycerides (LCT), MCT are absorbed faster and transported through the body. Besides that, MCT have a speed of oxidation comparable to CHO, but, since they are lipids, they provide a greater amount of energy when oxidized. Therefore, MCT seem to be the ideal fuel for long-term events. To conclude, the aim of this revision is to elucidate how MCT can influence performance in ultra-endurance exercises.