Eicosapentaenoic Acid and Medium-Chain Triacylglycerol Structured Lipids Improve Endurance Performance

Purpose: The effects of intake of STGs containing esterified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) on cardiorespiratory endurance have not yet been reported. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of interesterified structured lipids EPA and MCTs on cardiorespiratory endurance. Methods: This 8-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled parallel-group study involved 19 healthy men. The participants were randomly assigned to a group that received interesterified structured lipids EPA and MCTs (STG group, 9 participants) or a group receiving a PM of EPA and MCTs (PM group, 10 participants). The outcome measures were time to exhaustion (TTE) and time to reach the anaerobic threshold in the peak oxygen uptake (VO(2)peak) test, VO(2)peak, and anaerobic threshold. Results: The increase in TTE in the VO(2)peak test after the intervention period compared with before the intervention period was significantly greater in the STG group (53 ± 53 s) than in the PM group (−10 ± 63 s; p < 0.05). Similarly, the increase in time to reach the anaerobic threshold was significantly greater in the STG group (82 ± 55 s) than in the PM group (−26 ± 52 s; p < 0.001). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the consumption of interesterified structured lipids EPA and MCTs improved endurance in humans.