This data reflects the recommendations for extremely prolonged and intense exercise (10-12 g/kg of body mass/day) [11]. These findings show that ultra-endurance athletes competing

in team relay format can reach the consumption of carbohydrates which has been suggested in a laboratory study to optimize carbohydrate oxidation [13]. This fact is very important in ABT-263 ultra-endurance team relay events, since athletes can perform more than 80% of racing time at intensities corresponding to zone II and III of HRmax (Table 2). It is known that this pattern of exercise elicits an important oxidation of carbohydrates as a main fuel for muscle contraction [12]. Nevertheless, not only is the amount of carbohydrates important, it should be also paid attention on other factors relating to the limitations of carbohydrate absorption. The feeding schedule, particle size, meal temperature, osmolality and exercise intensity determine the gastric emptying and absorption in the duodenum [29].

For instance, some studies have demonstrated that a homogenized fluid meal, rich in carbohydrates, empties substantially faster than an equivalent solid meal [29, 30]. However, in longer events, solid food will satisfy an LCL161 solubility dmso athlete’s hunger and allow buy Defactinib for more variation, which can also help to intake adequate amounts of carbohydrates [1]. In this study the source of energy was balanced between solids (2,877 ± 1,355 kcal) and fluids (2,560 ± 1,074), respectively. In addition, there is evidence that during high-intensity exercise (> 80% VO2max) a reduced blood flow to the gut may result in a decreased absorption of both glucose and water [31]. In the current study, two cyclists evidenced gastro-intestinal disturbances related to nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea during the last hours of the event. Interestingly, both cyclists performed relays at high intensity compared with the other cyclists (subject’s number 4 and 8 in Table 2). Taking in account that blood flow to the gut decreases in proportion to the exercise intensity and gastro-intestinal problems are more likely to occur when the exercise intensity is increased [23], this fact could be Sulfite dehydrogenase an

explanation for the occurrence of these problems. However, this is only speculation and we cannot exclude other important factors that may also increase the risk of gastro-intestinal disturbances. For instance, an interesting finding of this study was that fluid yogurt represented the third highest energy contribution in the diet of the cyclists (Table 6). Although the ingestion of milk and derived products just after exercise has been suggested to be an excellent dietary form to attenuate whole body protein breakdown [32], there is also evidence indicating that the consumption of such products could be associated with greater satiety and reduced ad libitum energy intake in humans [33]. It seems that this effect is related with the presence of casein proteins in milk [34].