Depending on exercise intensity, a low-carb beverage with a moderate amount of added protein can improve aerobic endurance–even though it contains half the carbohydrates and less than one-third the calories of standard sports drinks, according to a study by Lisa Ferguson-Stegall, M.S., and colleagues of The University of Texas at Austin.
Cyclists Go Longer on Low-Carb, Added-Protein Supplement
In the laboratory study, 15 trained endurance cyclists performed two long rides: three hours, followed by an intense ride–up to 85 percent of aerobic capacity (VO2 max)–until exhaustion. On one ride, the athletes were given a standard six percent carbohydrate supplement. On the other ride, they received a three percent carbohydrate supplement (containing a mix of carbohydrates) with 1.2 percent added protein. On each ride, the cyclists were given 275 mL of their assigned beverage every 20 minutes.
Overall, there was no significant difference in endurance times. Average time to exhaustion was 26 minutes with the standard supplement and 31 minutes with the low-carb plus protein supplement.
However, the difference became significant for athletes exercising at or below their ventilatory threshold (VT)–the point at which breathing starts to become increasingly difficult. For the eight cyclists in this group, average time to exhaustion was 45 minutes with the low-carb plus protein beverage, compared to 35 minutes with the standard carbohydrate drink.
Thus endurance improved by about 28 percent in cyclists exercising at or near their VT. For the seven athletes exercising above their VT, there was no significant difference in time to exhaustion–about 15 minutes with both supplements.
Source: Newswise.com
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