Peak Fat Oxidation is Not Independently Related to Ironman Performance in Women

Stine Dahl Vest, Jacob Frandsen, Steen Larsen, Flemming Dela, Jørn Wulff Helge

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate if peak fat oxidation rate (PFO) is related to Ironman performance in female athletes. Thirty-six female Ironman athletes (age: 34±1 yrs, [21-45 yrs.] SEM [Range]) with a BMI of 22.1±2.0 kg/m 2 [18.8-28.4 kg/m 2 ], a body fat percentage of 24.8±1.0% [9.0-37.0%] and a VO 2 peak of 53.0±1.3 ml/min/kg [36.5-70.5 ml/min/kg] were tested in the laboratory prior to the Ironman Copenhagen 2017. Race time ranged from 9:17:07 to 15:23:48 with mean race time being 11:57:26 h:min:s (717 min). By simple linear regression analyses we found associations between race time and P FO (r 2 =0.22, p<0.005), VO 2 peak (r 2 =0.65, p<0.0001) and the relative exercise intensity eliciting PFO (Fatmax) (r 2 =0.35, p=0.0001). Furthermore, associations were found between race time and body fat percentage (r 2 =0.44, p<0.0001) and age (r 2 =0.16, p<0.05). By means of multiple regression analysis, VO 2 peak was the only statistically significant variable explaining 64% of the variation in race time (adj. r 2 =0.64, p<0.005). In conclusion, these results demonstrate that PFO is not independently related to Ironman performance in a heterogeneous group of female athletes. Interestingly, VO 2 peak alone was able to predict 64% of the variation in Ironman race times.

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Sports Medicine
Volume39
Issue number12
Pages (from-to)916-923
ISSN0172-4622
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018

Keywords

  • Adipose Tissue/metabolism
  • Adult
  • Athletic Performance/physiology
  • Bicycling
  • Calorimetry, Indirect
  • Fatty Acids/blood
  • Female
  • Glycerol/blood
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxygen Consumption
  • Regression Analysis
  • Running
  • Swimming
  • Young Adult

Cite this