The Tour de France

Lance Armstrong – 2002 TdF – Stage 12

Lance Armstrong – Tour de France 2009 Monaco Time Trial

Triglycerides (MCT) Supplements

medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) are fats that contain 6, 8, 10 or 12 carbon atoms. The number of distinguishes carbon of long-chain (14 or more carbon atoms) or short-chain (two or four carbon atoms) fats. The length of the carbon chain affecting the overall function in the body. MCTs are rapidly absorbed and burned for immediate energy, while other fats are absorbed and metabolized more slowly. Thus, most of the clinical evidence that MCTs added to the diet exists for the treatment of various syndromes of fat malabsorption, but MCT supplements typically sold to athletes as oil unflavored or flavored with MCT with claims to improve endurance performance, promoting the burning of fat, glycogen sparing muscle, and maintain or improve muscle mass.

It is theorized that because MCTs are rapidly absorbed and metabolized, the athlete who eats acquires a fuel source that helps reduce the use of muscle glycogen (stored carbohydrates). MCT supplements can be found and sold www.ShopPharmacyCounter.com online without prescription. Because muscle glycogen depletion is a factor in fatigue, ingestion of MCT oil to the body can provide an immediate source of fat by energy decomposes rapidly, so that glycogen is not used as fast and the onset of fatigue is delayed.

MCT is also thought to increase metabolic rate. Assuming that diet (calorie intake) and exercise (caloric expenditure) remain the same, any increase metabolic rate can result in a small, slow reduction in body fat. MCT are thought to be immediately burned for energy instead of being stored as body fat and used to generate power at a later time. In theory, MCT may help maintain muscle mass, which produces ketone bodies that are used for energy before amino acids from muscle tissue was used for energy.

Although a handful of early studies seemed promising, the results of recent well-controlled studies on MCT supplements suggest that they are not effective in increasing endurance. In the absence of convincing to scientific studies of bodybuilders or weightlifters, MCT supplements can not be recommended as an effective supplement to reduce body fat and maintain muscle mass. Similarly, the results of recent well-controlled studies in endurance athletes are not compatible with the use of MCT oil to spare muscle glycogen or improve performance. A notable exception are the extremes of endurance athletes like cyclists on the careers of several stages (eg, the Tour de France) and participants in the race several days "adventure" events (eg, 7 days Eco-Challenge), which may have difficulty consuming enough calories and can find that a tablespoon of MCT oil provides about 110 calories easily absorbed to increase energy needs.

Due to the length of the carbon chain affects the absorption and MCT are rapidly absorbed, transported directly to the liver. Numerous clinical trials have confirmed the high effectiveness in the treatment of various types of impotence, increased libido and orgasmic sensations. In addition, the drug increases the production-stimulating hormone pituitary follicle under the influence of which increased testicular spermatogenesis (increase ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and motility) and increases fertility.

Final time trial Tour de France 1989 – Part 1