Effects of Different Sports Supplements on Metabolism and Perceptual Responses During Distance Running

Old Dominion University4 enrolled

Overview

Several previous studies have shown that repeatedly ingesting carbohydrate supplements during exercise training sessions, over a period of days and weeks, can gradually increase carbohydrate oxidation and reduce gut discomfort during exercise. However, repeatedly ingesting large amounts of carbohydrate during training sessions can be burdensome and can cause gut distress. Thus, it would be advantageous if the same long-term benefits could be realized from consuming these carbohydrate supplements at rest instead of specifically during training sessions. Therefore, the goal of this study is to examine whether repeatedly ingesting a carbohydrate-rich beverage at rest over a 5-day period alters metabolism and gut symptoms while ingesting carbohydrate during exercise.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Anomalies Gastrointestinal

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Be currently running ≥15 miles per week * Have completed at least one run \>60 minutes over the past month * Have completed one or more marathons within the past year Exclusion Criteria: * Overt cardiovascular disease or metabolic disorder * Adverse symptoms (e.g., unusual shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain) with exercise * Allergies/intolerances to any of the ingredients in the beverages

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Gastrointestinal Symptom Ratings

Symptoms such as nausea, fullness, belching, reflux, abdominal cramps, flatulence, and urge to defecate will be recorded on a 0-10 scale (0 = no discomfort, 10 = unbearable discomfort).

Time frame: Symptoms will be collected during a 60 minute run on a treadmill at a baseline visit and at a second visit after ingesting the carbohydrate or placebo beverage for 5 days.

Change in Hydrogen Breath Production

Samples of expired air will be tested for hydrogen levels, a marker of carbohydrate malabsorption

Time frame: Samples will be collected before after a 60-minute run at a baseline visit and at a second visit after ingesting the carbohydrate or placebo beverage for 5 days.

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Carbohydrate Oxidation

Respiratory gases will be used to estimate carbohydrate oxidation rates.

Time frame: Respiratory gases will be collected during each 60-minute run at a baseline visit and at a second visit after ingesting the carbohydrate or placebo beverage for 5 days.

Change in Feeling Scale

A bipolar scale ranging from -5 (very bad) to +5 (very good)

Time frame: Ratings will be collected collected before and during each 60-minute run at a baseline visit and at a second visit after ingesting the carbohydrate or placebo beverage for 5 days.