C. Akermark et al., DIET AND MUSCLE GLYCOGEN CONCENTRATION IN RELATION TO PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN SWEDISH ELITE ICE HOCKEY PLAYERS, INT J SP NU, 6(3), 1996, pp. 272-284
The effects of carbohydrate (CHO) loading on physical characteristics
including muscle fiber distribution, muscle glycogen concentration, an
d physical performance were studied in two top Swedish ice hockey team
s. Players were randomly allocated to two groups: those consuming a CH
O-enriched diet (CHO group) and those consuming a mixed diet (controls
). Biopsies from the vastus lateralis muscle were taken three times: a
fter Game 1, before Game 2, and after Game 2. Muscle fiber distributio
n averaged 50 +/- 2% slow twitch fibers (mean +/- 1 SEM). Muscle glyco
gen concentrations (measured in mmol glucose units . kg(-1) wet muscle
) were as follows: after Game 1, 43 +/- 4 (all players); before Game 2
, 99 +/- 7 (CHO group) and 81 +/- 7 (controls); and after Game 2, 46 /- 6 (CHO group) and 44 +/- 5 (controls). Distance skated, number of s
hifts skated, amount of time skated within shifts, and skating speed i
mproved with CHO loading. It was concluded that individual differences
in performance could be related to muscle glycogen metabolism.