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Effect of Carbohydrate-protein Co-ingestion on Short-term Recovery

Effects of Post-Exercise Recovery Drink Composition on Subsequent Performance in Masters Class Athletes

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04859491
Enrollment
24
Registered
2021-04-26
Start date
2021-07-22
Completion date
2021-12-05
Last updated
2022-05-17

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Dietary Supplementations

Keywords

glycogen, glucose, aerobic exercise, time to exhaustion, supplementation, protein, endurance, recovery

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the consumption of a carbohydrate, carbohydrate plus protein, or placebo sports drink during a 2-hour recovery period effectively moderates performance decrements during a subsequent bout of high-intensity exercise. This information will benefit any endurance-trained masters class athlete who may need to compete or train multiple times a day.

Detailed description

To test the hypothesis, this study will utilize a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled between-subject design to examine the effects of carbohydrate (CHO) and carbohydrate-protein (CHO-P) supplementation on short-term recovery following aerobic interval exercise (INT) and time to exhaustion (TTE) testing in maters class athletes. After completing the informed consent and screening process (Visit #1), each participant will be assessed for their anthropometric measures as well as body composition and will complete a graded exercise test to volitional exhaustion on a cycle ergometer to determine VO2peak. Forty-eight to 72 hours after Visit #1, or VO2peak testing, participants will return to the lab for familiarization with the INT exercise protocol and TTE test (Visit #2). Within forty-eight to 72 hours after familiarization (Visit #2), participants will return to the lab for Visit #3 to complete INT exercise and TTE, a 2-hour passive recovery period including the consumption of one of three treatments (CHO, CHO-P, PLA), followed by repeated INT exercise and TTE, heart rate variability and sweat rate determination. Participants will also complete the Nutritional Recovery Practices, Knowledge, and Beliefs of Australian Triathletes survey during the 2-hour recovery period. Participants will be asked to complete the ASA24®, an automated self-administered 24-hour dietary assessment tool during the 5-9-day period between familiarization (Visit #2) and the experimental protocol (Visit #3).

Interventions

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTCarbohydrate

Participants have a one in three chance of consuming a carbohydrate beverage between two bouts of high-intensity exercise.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTCarbohydrate-Protein

Participants have a one in three chance of consuming a carbohydrate-protein beverage between two bouts of high-intensity exercise.

DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTPlacebo

Participants have a one in three chance of consuming a placebo beverage between two bouts of high-intensity exercise.

Sponsors

Erica Goldstein
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Masking description

The primary investigator will not be blinded to the treatment groups. However, both the research assistants responsible for administering the experimental protocol (aerobic interval and time to exhaustion testing) and the participants will be.

Intervention model description

Participants will be randomized to one of three groups: isocaloric carbohydrate (1.2 g/kg of body weight), carbohydrate-protein (0.8 g/kg body weight carbohydrate + 0.4 g/kg body weight protein), or placebo (flavored water). All three beverages will have a similar appearance and taste and participants will be blinded to the contents. All beverages will contain the same volume of fluid (1 liter).

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
35 Years to 59 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Men between the ages of 35 and 59 years * Free of any physical limitations as determined by the Exercise Preparticipation Health Screening Questionnaire for Exercise Professionals (PHSQEP), and a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+) * Regularly engaged in endurance exercise (running, cycling, swimming) for a minimum of three years, a weekly training volume of 5-10 hours, and a maximal oxygen uptake of 45.00 ml·kg-1·min-1 or higher as determined by completion of VO2peak assessment (Visit #1).

Exclusion criteria

* Recent musculoskeletal injuries or surgeries * Any chronic illness that requires continuous medical care * Current incarceration, cognitive impairment or inability to provide consent * Present or past use of performance-enhancing drugs

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Time to Exhaustion (TTE)Visit #3 (Day 7)Participants cycle for as long as possible at 90% of peak power output (watts)

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Heart Rate Variability (HRV)Visit #3 (Day 7)R-R intervals recorded via a heart rate monitor and Elite HRV will be downloaded and analyzed using a laptop with commercially available HRV analysis software. Root mean square of the successive differences of R-R intervals (RMSSD) values will be recorded during the 90% TTE and then post-exercise every 5 min (end of TTE, 5min, 10min, 15min, 20min, 25min, 30min).
Sweat Rate (SR)Visit #3 (Day 7)Sweat rate will be determined based on the difference between pre-and post-weight changes for each bout of exercise, the amount of fluid consumed during the recovery period, and total exercise time in minutes.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026