According to a new study, a low and mixed-carb sports drink with added protein leads to increased endurance in trained female athletes. The study appeared in the April issue of The Journal off Strength and Conditioning Research.
Most standard performance enhancement drinks are single-carb and researchers said the results indicate that adding protein and mixing carbohydrates are indeed better for performance. Fourteen trained female cyclists and triathletes participated in the study where they performed an intense cycling session until exhaustion after a three-hour ride. Some women received the standard single-carb drink while others received the mixed-carb drink with added protein.
The women who drank the mixed-carb drink plus protein drink experienced a significantly longer time to exhaustion than those consumed the standard single-carb drink – 50 minutes compared to 42 minutes, respectively. Therefore, the mixed-carb plus protein drink increased endurance performance by around 15 percent, researchers reported.
Many studies have shown that beverages containing carbohydrates increase endurance and performance and this research was conducted in an effort to create a more effective supplement. Instead of using the standard carbohydrate used in performance enhancement supplements (dextrose), the researchers combined three carbohydrates – glucose, fructose and maltodextrin.
The mixed-carb plus protein supplement "improved performance despite containing 50 percent lower carbohydrate content and approximately 30 percent fewer calories," study leader, Erin, L. McCleave and co-authors concluded. "This may be an important consideration for those individuals concerned about body weight and caloric intake."
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