Question

One of your friends is preparing for a run in a marathon. She has heard about eating a pasta dinner to glycogen load the evening prior to the marathon. Explain in biochemical terms what glycogen loading is and how it works? Please include hormonal controls, key enzymes and a discussion of both liver and muscle in the process.

Answer 1

One of your friends is preparing for a run in a marathon. She has heard about eating a pasta dinner to glycogen load the evening prior to the marathon. Explain in biochemical terms what glycogen loading is and how it works? Please include hormonal controls, key enzymes and a discussion of both liver and muscle in the process.

Ans.Carbohydrate loading,commonly referred to as carb-loading or carbo-loading is a strategy used by endurance athletes,such as runners,to maximumise the storage of glycogen in the muscles and liver.

Carbohydrate loading is also used in heaithcare to optimise the condition of patient prior to colorectal surgery.

Carbohydrate loading is generally recommended for endurance events lasting longer than 90 minutes.many endurance athletes prefer food with low glycemic indices for carbo-loading due to their minimal effect on serum glucose levels.Low glycemic foods commonly include vegetables,whole wheat pasta, and grains.Many marathoners and triathlon participants have large pasta dinners the night before the race .since muscles also use amino limits,meals shouls also include adequate protein.large protions before a race can,however,decrease race-day performance if digestive system has not had the time to process the food regimen.