The Effects Of Ingesting a Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Beverage 15 Minutes Prior to High-Intensity Exercise Performance

• Published in: Research in sports medicine Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 155 - 166
• Main Authors: Davison, G.W., McClean, C., Brown, J., Madigan, S., Gamble, D., Trinick, T., Duly, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Group 16.09.2008
• Subjects: Adult; Beverages; blood glucose concentration; Dietary Carbohydrates - metabolism; Dietary Carbohydrates - pharmacology; exercise performance; glucose ingestion; Humans; Male; Physical Endurance - drug effects; Physical Endurance - physiology; Physical Exertion - drug effects; Physical Exertion - physiology; Rehydration Solutions - metabolism; Rehydration Solutions - pharmacology; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1543-8627; 1543-8635
• DOI: 10.1080/15438620802103155

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of ingesting a commercially available carbohydrate-electrolyte (CHO-E) solution on strenuous exercise performance. Ten apparently healthy male volunteers (Mean ± SD; age 20 ± 2 yrs; height 178 ± 7 cm; body mass 77 ± 10 kg; estimated VO 2max 56 ± 3 ml − kg −1− min −1 ) completed three experimental trials in random order separated by a minimum of 7 days. For each trial, subjects consumed (8 ml.kg −1 body mass) either a CHO-E solution (6% carbohydrate, 50 mg Na/500 ml), a non-CHO-E placebo, or no fluid, 15 minutes prior to exercise. The exercise involved intermittent shuttle (20 m apart) running for 1 hr followed by an incremental shuttle running test to exhaustion. Subjects displayed longer exercise times when the CHO-E solution was ingested compared with placebo or no fluid groups (exercise time to exhaustion - CHO-E 649 ± 95 s, vs. placebo 601 ± 83 s, vs. no fluid 593 ± 107 s, P < 0.05). There was a main effect for time for specific gravity of urine (P < 0.05 vs. postexercise, pooled data) and body mass (P < 0.05 vs. postexercise, pooled data). The main finding from this investigation indicates that drinking a CHO-E solution 15 minutes prior to exercise improves performance. This study has practical implications for those sports where drinking during activity is restricted.