Abstract des Autors

Objective: To examine the effect of energy restriction and wrestling on muscle glycogen content in highly-trained male wrestlers. Design: Randomized, unblinded intervention trial. Setting: McMaster University Nutrition and Metabolism Research Laboratory. Participants: Twelve highly trained male wrestlers volunteered as subjects and were randomly assigned to one of two groups (Group A, n=6; Group B, n=6) as defined below. Assessment of risk factors: All subjects were free of medical conditions that would preclude participation in the study and all had performed rapid weight loss at least three times/year with no medical complications. Interventions: Group A: simulated wrestling tournament, four 5-min wrestling bouts (>7 h) following a 5% body weight loss and 17 h repletion period; Group B: 5% weight loss through energy restriction (1,141 kcal/day), exercise, fluid restriction, and dehydration methods (sauna) >72 h. Main outcome measures: Group A: muscle glycogen content before and after wrestling tournament and plasma lactate after each bout; Group B: muscle glycogen before and after weight loss. Results: Group A: no significant effect on muscle glycogen concentration, yet large increases were observed in blood lactate concentrations (up to 14.7 mmol/L); Group B: weight loss resulted in a 54% (p<0.018) reduction in muscle glycogen concentration. Conclusions: The weight loss methods commonly performed by wrestlers resulted in large decreases in muscle glycogen concentration that were largely reversed during the 17-h repletion period between weigh-in and the start of the competition; participation in a wrestling tournament did not have a significant impact upon biceps brachii glycogen concentration when ad libitum feeding is alowed between matches. Verf.-Referat