Altering fatty acid availability does not impair prolonged, continuous running to fatigue: evidence for carbohydrate dependence
Open accessAbstract
We determined the effect of suppressing lipolysis via administration of nicotinic acid (NA) on fuel substrate selection and half-marathon running capacity. In a single-blinded, Latin square design, 12 competitive runners completed four trials involving treadmill running until volitional fatigue at a pace based on 95% of personal best half-marathon time. Trials were completed in a fed or overnight fasted state: 1) carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion before (2 g CHO·kg−1·body mass−1) and during (44 g/h) [CFED]; 2) CFED plus NA ingestion [CFED-NA]; 3) fasted with placebo ingestion during [FAST]; and 4) FAST plus NA ingestion [FAST-NA]. There was no difference in running distance (CFED, 21.53 ± 1.07; CFED-NA, 21.29 ± 1.69; FAST, 20.60 ± 2.09; FAST-NA, 20.11 ± 1.71 km) or time to fatigue between the four trials. Concentrations of plasma free fatty acids (FFA) and glycerol were suppressed following NA ingestion irrespective of preexercise nutritional intake but were higher throughout exercise in FAST compared with all other trials ( P < 0.05). Rates of whole-body CHO oxidation were unaffected by NA ingestion in the CFED and FAST trials, but were lower in the FAST trial compared with the CFED-NA trial ( P < 0.05). CHO was the primary substrate for exercise in all conditions, contributing 83-91% to total energy expenditure with only a small contribution from fat-based fuels. Blunting the exercise-induced increase in FFA via NA ingestion did not impair intense running capacity lasting ∼85 min, nor did it alter patterns of substrate oxidation in competitive athletes. Although there was a small but obligatory use of fat-based fuels, the oxidation of CHO-based fuels predominates during half-marathon running.
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During sustained high intensity exercise (>70% VO2max), which is common during competition, CHO is the primary substrate relied upon despite short and long term fat acclimation.
“However, during sustained high intensity exercise (>70% VO2max) which is common during competition, CHO is the primary substrate relied upon despite short and long term fat acclimation [71, 75].”
From Understanding the factors that effect maximal fat oxidation. (2018) · cites this paper as [75]
The Introduction says carbohydrate is the predominant fuel at the high exercise intensities sustained in competition, including relative intensities of 70–90% VO₂max. The Discussion reports that carbohydrate supplied 83–91% of energy during the study’s intense running trials, even when participants fasted overnight. The study did not test short- or long-term fat acclimation, so that qualifier is not established by this source. (LLM, conf=0.87)
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- Authors
- Leckey, J. J., Burke, L. M., Morton, J. P., & Hawley, J. A.
- Affiliations
- Australian Catholic University (AU)
- Sports Nutrition, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia; and
- Liverpool John Moores University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Hawley, John A.
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Physiology
- Publisher
- American Physiological Society
- Published
- 2016-01-15
- Volume
- 120
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 107-113
- ISSN
- 0161-7567 (ISSN-L)
- 8750-7587
- 1522-1601
- OpenAlex
- W2176537911
- Cited by
- 33
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3
- FWCI
- 1.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Physiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Liverpool John Moores University (submittedVersion)
- Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Department of Sports Nutrition at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)
- SiS (Science in Sport) Limited, UK
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Keywords
- nicotinic acid, free fatty acids, carbohydrate oxidation, running fatigue, fasting, endurance exercise, glycerol, competitive runners
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Dietary Carbohydrates, Energy Metabolism, Fatigue, Fatty Acids, Nonesterified, Glycerol, Humans, Lipolysis, Male, Oxidation-Reduction, Running, Exercise, Single-Blind Method
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