Glycogen depletion rate

[Heavy Duty dude]

A trainer told me that a small muscle depletes its glycogen more slowly than a large muscle, and that it is possible to train it with more set.

His logic is that the smaller muscle can "burns less fuel".

For instance it's possible to do like 10 sets of chest and like 14 sets of biceps.

It sounds weird to me. Do you think it's true?

Thanks,
HDD.

 

[Morgoth the Dark Enemy]

It`s not. The research points to the fact that the depletion rate is something like 0.35mmol/kg/sec. Mmol/kg is the way glycogen is measured NOT something pertaining to the weight you use for your exercise mind you. As far as I know there`s no research pointing to a differentiated rate of glycogen depletion per muscle(though there may be floating around, I`m not sure). The only difference is that glycogen stores are likely to ammount to less in smaller muscles, but if anything, that points to the contrary.

 

[Heavy Duty dude]

Thx for the answer.

Could it be possible that glycogen be re-synthesized faster between sets in a small muscle, because of more blood flow or whatever?

Also, could the amount of glycogen stored depend on the fiber type?

 

[Morgoth the Dark Enemy]

I`m afraid I don`t have an answer structured right for your question, aside from the fact that the base argument is bogus and you most certainly don`t need more effort in order to deplete smaller muscle groups(calves may or may not be an exception to the rule).
And resynthesis doesn`t occur between sets(in any significant manner, unless you take quite some time between them), it happens post exercise and is a fairly complex process-I`m certain you`re not interested in theoretical wanking WRT to this, are you?  

And WRT the fiber type, what I know is that there`s at least 1 study showing that Type II fibers can resynthesize up to 50%(in humans, up to 100% in animals) glycogen even in the absence of food. Which is a huge ammount...and is also at odds with the success people get using the UD2 for example, where depletion plays a key role.

 

[Heavy Duty dude]

Ok, thanks for the explanations!