Carbohydrate mouth-rinsing does not rescue simulated time trial performance in trained endurance cyclists following a 5-day ketogenic diet.

backgroundCarbohydrate mouth rinsing (CHO-MR) during periods of fasting or low muscle glycogen availability could provide a more pronounced ergogenic effect compared to fed and high muscle glycogen conditions. However, there is little evidence investigating the efficacy of CHO-MR during periods of low muscle glycogen induced by ketogenic diets. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of CHO-MR vs. a placebo (PLA-MR) on cycling time trial performance in trained endurance cyclists following their habitual diet (HD) or a 5-day ketogenic diet (KD).

methodsEight participants completed baseline testing and four trial conditions. For each trial, participants adhered to either their HD or a KD for 5 consecutive days. During the first 4 days of each dietary phase, they tracked daily nutrition; additionally, they recorded morning fasting blood glucose and

resultsThe 5-day KD significantly increased the time to completion (TTC) compared to HD (

conclusionThe data indicate that repeated 6.4% CHO-MR during endurance cycling is insufficient to overcome performance impairments induced via a 5-day ketogenic diet. This suggests that peripheral substrate availability may constrain the hepatic glucose output in response to central nervous system cues. Further research is required to elucidate how peripheral glycogen stores, central neural drive, and ergogenic interventions interact under low-carbohydrate conditions.