Effect of carbohydrate timing on running capacity and metabolism
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The effect of ingesting a single carbohydrate bolus late in exercise on running capacity and glycogen utilisation in trained male runners
IRAS ID
243887
Contact name
James A. Betts
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bath
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Ingesting carbohydrate during exercise has been shown to improve exercise capacity and performance. However, there is little research examining the effect of the timing of the carbohydrate feed on exercise capacity and metabolism. Only one study has investigated the effects of a single large bolus of carbohydrate during cycling against a non-carbohydrate control. Moreover, the effect of carbohydrate ingestion on glycogen metabolism has been shown to be different in running than to cycling. The proposed study seeks to investigate the effect of ingesting a single large bolus of carbohydrate late in exercise compared to a regular feeding condition on running capacity and glycogen metabolism.
The study will seek to recruit 10 trained male runners between the ages of 18-50 with no history of metabolic disease (e.g. diabetes) or substance abuse (alcohol/tobacco). Participants will be required to visit the laboratory on 4 occasions and will involve participants to run to voluntary exhaustion each time. Visit 1 will involve an assessment of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). All subsequent visits will consist of running at 70% VO2max to exhaustion whilst ingesting water or glucose. There will be 2 glucose trials that will involve consuming 75 g of glucose in either a single large bolus or in smaller doses at 5 minute intervals. During all trials, blood and breath samples will be collected. Muscle samples will also be collected during the glucose trials to investigate the effect of the timing of the glucose ingestion on glycogen metabolism.
All testing for this research project will be carried out at the University of Bath, with the aim to complete initial data collection by April 2019.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/SW/0177
Date of REC Opinion
10 Oct 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion