Intermittent fasting compromises the performance of eutrophic rats submitted to resistance training
Letícia Pereira Nutrition Available online 1 February 2021, 111187
Highlights
• The results provide evidence that intermittent fasting reduces resistance training ladder climbs performance;
• Additionally, intermittent fasting did not influence food and water intake, nor did it promote a reduction in body weight or the weight of visceral and subcutaneous inguinal fat tissues;
• Intermittent fasting associated with RTLC increased stomach weight;
• Resistance training ladder climbs increased food intake and muscle strength only in animals which were not subjected to intermittent fasting, with no increase in body weight or the weight of the skeletal muscles.
Objectives
This study analyzed the effects of intermittent fasting (IF) on the performance of rats subjected to resistance training ladder climbs (RTLC).
Methods
Thirty-Two Wistar rats (80 days-old) were divided into 4 groups (n=8/group): Control (C): fed a standard diet with no exercise; Intermittent fasting (IF): IF for 16h / day, fed a standard diet for a period of 8h/day with no exercise; Trained Control (TC): fed a standard diet and submitted to RTLC. Trained Intermittent Fasting (TIF): IF for 16h/day, fed a standard diet for a period of 8h/day and submitted to RTLC. Training groups completed 6-weeks of RTLC (3x/week). The maximal load test (MLT) was applied on two occasions: a) before the first RTLC session; b) at the end of the 6th week of physical training. Its purpose was to compare changes in performance over time. Both blood collection and total extraction of the organs were performed at the final of the experimental period. Results: Food intake was higher in TC compared to IF and TIF. TC supported a higher load (g) during the final MLT compared to the C, IF, and TIF, respectively. TC (initial MLT: 371.4±31.1; final MLT: 593.9±33.5) and TIF (initial MLT: 402.3±31.8; final MLT: 495.4±83.3) presented higher values when the pre and post RTLC moments were compared. The relative weight of the stomach was higher in TIF compared to C and TC. There was no difference for AST and ALT enzymes activities as well as creatinine, and total cholesterol levels.
Conclusions
IF negatively affected RTLC performance. IF plus RTLC increased the relative weight of the stomach as well as reduced food intake, without an increase in body weight, suggesting this combination may have promoted dilation of this organ, due, hypothetically, to the scarcity of food for several hours and the energy expenditure generated by physical training.