Influence of medium chain triacylglycerides (MCT) on endurance sport performance

Authors

  • Zdeněk Vilikus Department of sports medicine
  • Simona Majorová Faculty of physical education and sport Charles university
  • Pavel Kysel College of Physical Education and Sport PALESTRA, Ltd.
  • Jan Švimberský College of Physical Education and Sport PALESTRA, Ltd.

Keywords:

medium chain triacylglycerols, MCT, sports performance, endurance performance, maximum aerobic capacity, V02max

Abstract

Introduction: Medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) are attributed to beneficial effects on the hu- man organism: improving the lipid spectrum by increasing HDL- and lowering LDL-cholesterol, preventing cardiovascular disease, increasing resistance to infectious diseases, acceleration of basal metabolism, improvement of digestion in chronic intestinal inflammations, neuroprotective action in chronic neurodegenerative diseases, anticancerogenic effect, loss of body fat, improvement of endurance sports performance and many others. Objective: The aim of our review article was to summarize and objectively evaluate the effect of MCT supplementation on endurance sport performance and body composition based on the latest findings of scientific literature. Method: We have used the Google Scholar, Web of Science and Scopus search engines. Based on keywords, we have searched for work from 1990 to the present. We selected only double-blind studies with a control group and placebo. Results: We found 14 works of the required quality and 1 meta-analysis. Up to date, only 1 study out of 14 have reported improvement in endurance performance time to exhaustion. On the other hand, authors of 10 studies found no iprovement and 4 studies have found deterioration in endurance performance after MCT application. Conclusions: None of the available scientific studies have shown improvement in endurance sport performance after MCT. MCT acts only as a placebo effect.

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Published

2018-04-13

How to Cite

Vilikus, Z., Majorová, S., Kysel, P., & Švimberský, J. (2018). Influence of medium chain triacylglycerides (MCT) on endurance sport performance. Diagnostics and Consultancy in Assisting Professions, 2(1), 43–50. Retrieved from https://odborne.casopisy.palestra.cz/index.php/dap/article/view/146

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2018): ACTUAL TREND IN DIAGNOSTIC AND COUNSELING IN FITNESS, WELLNESS AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

Section

DaC

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