Study supports what I have been recommending for years, during endurance events like 10km or longer hydrate using a drink containing 4-7% carbohydrate for maximum performance and the least amount of digestive distress.In the study below, the carbohydrate was supplied in grams of CHO per liter of fluid per hour. 70 grams/liter is equivalent to 7% CHO in the drink.
Curvilinear Dose-Response Relationship of Carbohydrate (0-120 g•h-1) and Performance.
Source
1Gatorade
Sports Science Institute, Barrington, IL 2Department of Kinesiology,
Auburn University, Auburn, AL 3Scout Consulting, Hebron, IL 4Department
of Health and Human Performance, University of Montana, Missoula, MT
5Department of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
6Dairy Research Institute, Rosemont, IL.
Abstract
ABSTRACT:
There is a lack of consensus regarding the optimal range of
carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion rates recommended for endurance athletes.
Purpose: This study investigated the relationship between CHO dose and
cycling time-trial performance to identify an optimal range of CHO
ingestion rates for endurance performance. Methods: Fifty-one cyclists
and triathletes (28 ± 7 yr, mean ± SD) across four research sites
completed four trials. Each trial consisted of a 2-h constant load ride
at 95% of the workload that elicited a 4-mM blood lactate concentration
immediately followed by a computer-simulated 20-km time-trial, which
subjects were asked to complete as quickly as possible. Twelve CHO
electrolyte (18 mmol•L Na, 3 mmol•L K, and 11 mmol•L Cl) beverages
(three at each site) were tested in a double-blind manner, providing
subjects 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, and 120 g CHO
(1:1:1 glucose-fructose-maltodextrin)•h during the 2-h constant load
ride at a fluid intake rate of 1 L•h. All subjects also consumed a
non-caloric placebo on one counterbalanced test occasion. Data were
natural log transformed, subjected to a mixed model analysis, and are
reported as adjusted treatment means. Results: We estimate incremental
performance improvements of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, and 4.7% at 9, 19, 31,
48 and 78 g•h respectively with diminishing performance enhancement seen
at CHO levels greater than 78 g•h. Conclusion: CHO beverage ingestion
and endurance (~160 min) performance appear to be related in a
curvilinear dose-response manner, with the best performance occurring
with a CHO (1:1:1 glucose-fructose-maltodextrin) ingestion rate of 78
g•h.
- PMID:
- 22968309
- [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]