ABSTRACT
Exercise poses a serious challenge to the bioenergetic pathways in the exercising muscle. For example, during heavy exercise, the body’s total energy output may increase 15-20 times above that of the resting condition. Most of this increase in energy production is used to provide ATP for contracting skeletal muscle, which may increase their energy utilization 200 times over utilization at rest. Therefore, it is apparent that skeletal muscles have a great capacity to produce and use large quantities of ATP during exercise. Such a large increase in ATP production is made possible by our ability to extract the energy stored in carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins we consume daily. In this context, a strong tie exists between nutrition and sports performance. Compared to lipids and proteins, carbohydrates remain the preferred fuel during high-intensity exercise because it can rapidly supply ATP both aerobically and anaerobically. Therefore, emphasizing a sufficient consumption of carbohydrate daily should be an integral part of the training regimen for most athletes. Lipids represent another potential source of energy. However, their catabolism normally results in a lower energy turnover that cannot quite match the energy demand imposed by most sporting events. Given that excess lipids can have negative impacts upon one’s health, it is equally important to understand the unique characteristics associated with lipid metabolism, so that an effective lifestyle strategy can be developed to facilitate fat loss.
