The Effects of a Train High, Sleep Low Strategy

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The investigators will examine the long-term effects of a combined training and diet intervention that, acutely, increases fat oxidation during exercise. This is done with a 4 week intervention study with moderately trained cyclists. Performance is tested pre and post intervention and muscle biopsies are obtained.

Official Title
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The Effects of a Train High, Sleep Low Strategy on Performance, Substrate Utilization and Muscular Adaptations in Moderately Trained Cyclists

Conditions
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Cycling Performance, Muscular Adaptations, Substrate Utilization

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Combined exercise and diet intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 18-45 years VO2-max>55 ml/kg/min No smokers Training 6 hours per week (cycling) Training experience for more than 3 years. Exclusion Criteria: Less than 2 g carbohydrate/kg/day

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 45 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Low group<br>This subjects in this group conducts all their morning exercise sessions with high fat oxidation (in a fasted condition). Thus, the subjects in this group after high intensity exercise in the evening do not get any carbohydrates to eat after training until the exercise session the following morning has been conducted. | Other: Combined exercise and diet intervention<br>* Both groups exercise 6 times per week in 4 weeks conducted as 3 evening and 3 morning sessions per week. Both groups receive dietary products to be consumed immediately before and after each evening and morning session, respectively. One group conduct morning sessions in a fasted state, the other conduct the morning sessions in a fed state. Performance pre and post is measured, and muscle biopsies are obtained.<br>|
| Active Comparator: High group<br>This subjects in this group conducts all their morning exercise sessions with low fat oxidation (in a fed condition). Thus, the subjects in this group after high intensity exercise in the evening do get carbohydrates to eat after training until the exercise session the following morning has been conducted. | Other: Combined exercise and diet intervention<br>* Both groups exercise 6 times per week in 4 weeks conducted as 3 evening and 3 morning sessions per week. Both groups receive dietary products to be consumed immediately before and after each evening and morning session, respectively. One group conduct morning sessions in a fasted state, the other conduct the morning sessions in a fed state. Performance pre and post is measured, and muscle biopsies are obtained.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time trial performance measured in Watts | 30 min time trial after 90 minutes of intensive cycling. The average amount of Watts during the 30 minutes will be measured. | Change from Baseline and after 4 weeks of training | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Protein expression in skeletal muscle tissue | Amount of mitochondrial proteins and enzymes will be measured with a Western Blotting technique | Baseline and after 4 weeks of training | 
| The absolute amount of carbohydrate and fat which is metabolised during morning exercise, measured in grams/minute | Fat and carbohydrate oxidation during exercise measured and estimated with indirect calorimetry. | Baseline and after 4 weeks of training |