The effects of glycaemic index on athletic performance
Item
- Title
- The effects of glycaemic index on athletic performance
- Author(s)
- Paesano Christian
- Abstract
- The beneficial effects of consuming carbohydrates prior to exercise to succour optimal athletic performance have been known for some time. Such information has lead to the production of numerous "energy supplying" beverages and dietary advice. This study aims to compare the effects, that that the glycaemic index (GI) of the carbohydrate to be included, has on the performance of athletes. Does a solution containing either a high-GI carbohydrate (glucose) or a low-GI (fructose) actually alter athletic performance? Subjects were given a solution 30 minutes prior to exercising at 75% maximum work capacity. 18 healthy subjects took part in the investigation. Three tests were conducted one week apart (two consisting of carbohydrate solutions, one with a high and one with a low 01 and one placebo solution). The solutions were indifferent in colour, taste, smell and overall appearance. The order of testing was random and unknown to either examiner or subject. Performance as measured by time-to-exhaustion were 24.62 minutes (+/- 4.19), 36.54 minutes (+/- 7.382) and 28.33 minutes (+/- 7.147) for placebo, glucose and fructose solutions respectively. Statistical analysis of the results showed a significant improvement in performance for both carbohydrate solutions compared to the placebo. Suggesting a positive benefit in consuming a carbohydrate solution 30 minutes prior to exercise. Analysis of the effects ofGI on performance revealed that there was alsoa significant statistical increase in time-to-exhaustion when consuming a high-GI solution compared to a low-GI carbohydrate. As reported by other authors (Walton, Rhodes, 1997) (Rankin, 1998), gastrointestinal discomfort was experienced by three of the subjects consuming the fructose solution, which produced decreases in time-to-exhaustion suggesting that the use of a low-GI carbohydrate with the aim of increasing performance is potentially counterproductive. The standard deviation of the carbohydrate solutions was greater than that for the placebo and is attributable to individual variation in carbohydrate use within subjects. These factors have been shown to include the rate of gastric emptying, exercise intensity and insulin sensitivity. This study shows that ingestion of a high-GI carbohydrate is most effective at increasing athletic performance when consumed 30 minutes prior to exercising at 75% VO2 max.
- presented at
- British College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Date Accepted
- 2002
- Date Submitted
- 1.11.2003 00:00:00
- Type
- undergraduate_project
- Language
- English
- Number of pages
- 67
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 13017
- Inst-Identifier
- 1076
- Keywords
- Exercise physiology,Carbohydrates,Energy drinks,Sugar
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Paesano Christian, “The effects of glycaemic index on athletic performance”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed May 4, 2025, https://www.osteopathicresearch.org/s/orw/item/1321