NUTR3000 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Carnitine, Coconut Oil, Triglyceride
Document Summary
Examine the consumption of fat during exercise in the context of sparing muscle glycogen. If you can delay glycogen usage, you can delay hitting the wall. Long-chain fatty acids can only move into the mitochondria (for oxidation) via transport proteins. Fat can only burn in oxygen, therefore fat can only be used in the mitochondria. Fat has to be transported in using a protein called carnitine. Carnitine moves long-chain fats into the mitochondria for burning. Since there"s a transporter, it takes time for muscles to burn fat during exercise. Meanwhile, medium chain triglyceride doesn"t need to be transported into the mitochondria. Mct doesn"t need carnitine to move fat into the mitochondria. So mct allows mitochondria to take in more fat at a faster rate. Also mct is relatively soluble in water and mcts are rapidly digested in the small intestine and transported into the mitochondrial without needing carnitine for help.
