Latest Articles
Author：Chia-Chen Chang; Jung-Piao Tsao; Tsen-Wei Tsai; I-Shiung Cheng
Period/Date/Page：Vol. 26 No. 1 (2024 / 03 / 31) ， P88 - 101
DOI：10.5297/ser.202403_26(1).0006
Acute Oral Green Tea Extract Supplementation Improves Cycling Time-Trial Performance in Humans
Abstract：Animal studies have consistently shown that green tea extract (GTE) can increase energy substrate reliance on fat oxidation, which improves endurance performance due to the glycogen sparing during exercise periods. The purpose of the present study is to demonstrate the effect of acute decaffeinated GTE supplementation prior to exercise on cycling time-trial performance. Fourteen healthy male college students completed a time-trial cycling performance that was assessed at 60% Wmax until exhaustion under 300 kcal breakfast meal consumption with either GTE (1,500 mg) or a placebo capsule two hours before the exercise challenge, using a single-blind crossover design separated by one week. Blood samples were collected before meal ingestion, prior to exercise, and immediately after exercise. The results showed that acute GTE supplementation significantly improved cycling performance to exhaustion compared to the placebo. Serum glycerol concentration was notably higher immediately after exercise in GTE compared to the placebo trial. However, blood parameters regarding glucose, non-esterified fatty acid, ammonia, serum urea, and creatine kinase were unchanged between the two trials. We conclude that 1,500 mg GTE supplementation improves cycling performance due to increased energy substrate reliance on fat oxidation during an exercise period. (Full text)
