Maximal Fat Oxidation is Related to Performance in an Ironman Triathlon

TY - JOUR

T1 - Maximal Fat Oxidation is Related to Performance in an Ironman Triathlon

AU - Frandsen, Jacob

AU - Vest, Stine Dahl

AU - Dela, Flemming

AU - Helge, Jørn W

N1 - © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

PY - 2017/11/1

Y1 - 2017/11/1

N2 - The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO) measured during a progressive exercise test on a cycle ergometer and ultra-endurance performance. 61 male ironman athletes (age: 35±1 yrs. [23-47 yrs.], with a BMI of 23.6±0.3 kg/m 2 [20.0-30.1 kg/m 2 ], a body fat percentage of 16.7±0.7% [8.4-30.7%] and a VO 2 peak of 58.7±0.7 ml/min/kg [43.9-72.5 ml/min/kg] SEM [Range]) were tested in the laboratory between 25 and 4 days prior to the ultra-endurance event, 2016 Ironman Copenhagen. Simple bivariate analyses revealed significant negative correlations between race time and MFO (r 2 =0.12, p<0.005) and VO 2 peak (r 2 =0.45, p<0.0001) and a positive correlation between race time and body fat percentage (r 2 =0.27, p<0.0001). MFO and VO 2 peak were not correlated. When the significant variables from the bivariate regression analyses were entered into the multiple regression models, VO 2 peak and MFO together explained 50% of the variation observed in race time among the 61 Ironman athletes (adj R 2 =0.50, p<0.001). These results suggests that maximal fat oxidation rate exert an independent influence on ultra-endurance performance (>9 h). Furthermore, we demonstrate that 50% of the variation in Ironman triathlon race time can be explained by peak oxygen uptake and maximal fat oxidation.

AB - The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between maximal fat oxidation rate (MFO) measured during a progressive exercise test on a cycle ergometer and ultra-endurance performance. 61 male ironman athletes (age: 35±1 yrs. [23-47 yrs.], with a BMI of 23.6±0.3 kg/m 2 [20.0-30.1 kg/m 2 ], a body fat percentage of 16.7±0.7% [8.4-30.7%] and a VO 2 peak of 58.7±0.7 ml/min/kg [43.9-72.5 ml/min/kg] SEM [Range]) were tested in the laboratory between 25 and 4 days prior to the ultra-endurance event, 2016 Ironman Copenhagen. Simple bivariate analyses revealed significant negative correlations between race time and MFO (r 2 =0.12, p<0.005) and VO 2 peak (r 2 =0.45, p<0.0001) and a positive correlation between race time and body fat percentage (r 2 =0.27, p<0.0001). MFO and VO 2 peak were not correlated. When the significant variables from the bivariate regression analyses were entered into the multiple regression models, VO 2 peak and MFO together explained 50% of the variation observed in race time among the 61 Ironman athletes (adj R 2 =0.50, p<0.001). These results suggests that maximal fat oxidation rate exert an independent influence on ultra-endurance performance (>9 h). Furthermore, we demonstrate that 50% of the variation in Ironman triathlon race time can be explained by peak oxygen uptake and maximal fat oxidation.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1055/s-0043-117178

DO - 10.1055/s-0043-117178

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 29050040

SN - 0172-4622

VL - 38

SP - 975

EP - 982

JO - International Journal of Sports Medicine

JF - International Journal of Sports Medicine

IS - 13

ER -