Article data (Effects of the Timing of Carbohydrate Intake on Metabolism and Performance in Soccer Players)

Effects of the Timing of Carbohydrate Intake on Metabolism and Performance in Soccer Players

This study aims to provide information to improve the performance of athletes, comparing the effects of carbohydrate–electrolyte intake before and during exercise on metabolism and performance in soccer players. The study had a single-blind cross-over design. Drust’s protocol is a soccer-specific intermittent exercise test. The carbohydrate-electrolyte intake experiments were divided into three timings: first, Pre-exercise; second, Half-time; and third, Mixed.

Respiratory gas and heart rate (COSMED Quark CPET, Rome, Italy) are continuously measured during the soccer-specific exercise tests. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) are measured every 15 min on the Borg scale (Borg, 1975) divided into steps 1 to 10 Respiratory exchange ratio (RER), CHO oxidation, and fat oxidation were expressed by an equation using the measured oxygen consumption (VO₂) and carbon dioxide production (VCO₂).

Measurement variable: RER; RPE; Fat oxidation, Carbohydatre oxidaion, Heart rate, Running time, Running distance