THE INFLUENCE OF INGESTING A CARBOHYDRATE-ELECTROLYTE BEVERAGE DURING 4 HOURS OF RECOVERY ON SUBSEQUENT ENDURANCE CAPACITY

Recovery from prolonged exercise involves both rehydration and replenishment of endogenous carbohydrate stores. The present study examined the influence of ingesting a carbohydrate-electrolyte (CE) solution following prolonged running, on exercise capacity 4 hr later. Twelve men and 4 women were divided into two matched groups, which were randomly assigned to either a control (P) or a carbohydrate (CHO) condition. Both groups ran at 70% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO(2)max) on a level treadmill for 90 min or until volitional fatigue (R(1)), and they ran at the same %VO(2)max to exhaustion 4 hr later to assess endurance capacity (R(2)) The CHO group ingested a 6.9% CE solution providing 1.0 g CHO . kg body weight(-1) immediately post-R(1) and again 2 hr later. The P group ingested equal volumes of a placebo solution. Run times (mean +/- SEM) for R(1) did not differ between the groups (P 86.3 +/- 3.8 min; CHO 87.5 +/- 2.5 min). The CHO group ran 22.2 (+/-3.5) min longer than the P group during R(2) (P 39.8 +/- 6.1 min; CHO 62.0 +/- 6.2 min) (p < .05). Thus, ingesting a 6.9% carbohydrate-electrolyte beverage following prolonged, constant-pace running improves endurance capacity 4 hr later.