Background
Evidence suggests that women oxidize more fat for fuel at rest than males. Potential sex differences in fuel utilization during exercise remain unclear. Alterations in diet may influence substrate utilization by altering substrate availability and metabolic enzyme activity. Reduced carbohydrate (CHO) intake has been shown to lower respiratory exchange ratio (RER) over time, which may improve aerobic endurance. The purpose of this study was to explore potential sex differences in the relationship between habitual macronutrient distribution and substrate utilization during exercise.