Limited Benefit of Fatmax-Test to Derive Training Prescriptions

• Published in: International journal of sports medicine 2014-04, Vol.35 (4), p.280-285
• Main Authors: Schwindling, S., Scharhag-Rosenberger, F., Kindermann, W., Meyer, T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anaerobic Threshold; Bicycling - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Calorimetry, Indirect; Energy Metabolism; Exercise Test - methods; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heart Rate - physiology; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; Lactic Acid - blood; Lipid Metabolism; Male; Medical sciences; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygen Consumption; Physical Education and Training; Physical Endurance - physiology; Respiration; Training & Testing; Vertebrates: body movement. Posture. Locomotion. Flight. Swimming. Physical exercise. Rest. Sports; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0172-4622; 1439-3964
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1349106

Abstract The intensity that elicits maximal fat oxidation (Fat max ) is recommended for training fat metabolism. However, it remains unclear whether Fat max leads to the highest fat oxidation rates during prolonged exercise. It was hypothesized that there are no differences in fat oxidation rates among 3 different exercise intensities. Therefore, fat metabolism was compared among 1-h constant load tests at Fat max , a higher and a lower intensity. A cohort of 16 male cyclists (28±6 yrs, BMI: 22.5±1.2 kg/m 2 ; n=8 with maximal oxygen uptake [VO 2max ] of 50–60 ml/min/kg [ET]; n=8 with VO 2max >60 ml/min/kg [HET]) completed a maximal incremental cycling test, a submaximal incremental Fat max -test and, thereafter, three 1-h constant-load tests in randomized order at Fat max , one exercise stage below (LOW) and one above (HIGH). LOW, Fat max and HIGH were performed at 52±13, 60±13 and 70±12% VO 2max . Heart rate and blood lactate were significantly different (p