|
The endurance capacity is affected by many factors, i.e., energy metabolism, glycogen content of the skeletal muscle, maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max) and so on. Many studies have shown the importance of carbohydrate metabolism, especially muscle glycogen during prolonged exercise. Nutrition is one of the factors that can optimize athletic performance, and optimal nutrition reduces fatigue or allows the athletic to train for longer duration. This review discussed recently reported the food components affecting in enhancement of endurance capacity. In particular, it has explained the increase of swimming capacity by capsaicin ingestion, a chronic MCT (medium-chain triglycerides) consumption and Chinese tradition medicines. It was showed that the increasing of swimming capacity by capsaicin is caused by fatty acid utilization due to capsaicin-induced adrenal catecholamine secretion. In effect of MCT-containing diet, the increase in the enzyme activities of the TCA cycle and ketone body utilization result in the enhancing of swimming capacity. And also in the case of Chinese tradition medicines, the plant worms (Torrubiella sp. and Cordyceps pruinosa) and Panox ginseng also showed the increasing effect on endurance capacity.
|