Influence of Structured Medium- and Long-Chain Triglycerides on Muscular Recovery Following Damaging Resistance Exercise

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Structured medium- and long-chain triglycerides (sMLCT) may be a superior vehicle for medium-chain fatty acid delivery to peripheral tissues, such as skeletal muscle. Limited information is available concerning the effect of sMLCT on muscular performance or recovery after a muscle-damaging exercise protocol. The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of a novel formulation of sMLCT on muscular performance and recovery. <b>Methods</b>: Forty female adults (mean ± SD age = 22 ± 3 years; body mass index = 23.5 ± 3.4 kg/m²) were randomized into one of two study groups, placebo control [CON; <i>n</i> = 20] or sMLCT [<i>n</i> = 20], and completed five total visits to the laboratory. The baseline (i.e., pre-exercise) assessments of muscle performance, size, and soreness were compared to assessments immediately following exercise and 24, 48, and 72 h post-exercise. <b>Results</b>: No statistically significant condition × time interactions were noted for strength outcomes, although trends for condition × time interactions were present for torque over 25 ms (<i>p</i> = 0.06) and peak torque (<i>p</i> = 0.05). Similarly, no condition x time interactions were present for ultrasound echo intensity, the subjective ratings of soreness and pain, thigh circumference, leg volume, and vertical jump performance. <b>Conclusions</b>: Within the context of the current study, the ingestion of sMLCT did not significantly influence the rate of muscle strength recovery following muscle damaging resistance exercise.