Angus, D. J., Hargreaves, M., Dancey, J., & Fabbraio, M. A. (1998). Effect of carbohydrate or carbohydrate plus medium chain triglyceride ingestion on cycling time trial performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30(5), Supplement abstract 475.

Endurance cyclists (N = 9) performed three trials of simulated 100 km cycling while ingesting CHO alone, CHO plus medium chain triglycerides, and a placebo.

For the first two hours Ss performed similarly under all conditions. In the final hour work rate was reduced in the placebo condition, remained consistent in the CHO plus medium chain triglyceride condition, but increased in the CHO-alone condition. Plasma glucose increase was similar in both CHO conditions, and CHO oxidation was similar across all conditions for the first 90 minutes and then remained similar in only the two CHO conditions.

Implication. The addition of medium chain triglycerides to CHO supplements during a very extended bout of exercise does not provide any further performance benefit. It may well have a slight performance suppression effect.

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