Effects of a Mixed Nutraceutical Beverage on Performance of Moderately Strenuous Aerobic Exercise Lasting Under an Hour

ABSTRACT

Intake of sugar containing drinks can aid performance in long aerobic exercise sessions. On the other hand, the effects on shorter sessions are less well characterized. The present study examined whether an effect could be seen in a shorter session when a nutraceutical beverage of carbohydrates (glucose, isomaltose, waxy maize) were combined with a small amount of protein plus nutritional antioxidants (β-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E). Recreationally trained, young adults performed two aerobic exercise testings, 4 weeks apart (3 mile run time + distance in 25 minutes of stationary biking + a 90 second step test). At the second testing, subjects drank 6.5 oz of either placebo (N=20) or the nutraceutical beverage (N=20) before and after the run, and midway through the cycling. Neither beverage affected run time but the nutraceutical beverage increased biking distance and step number (p < 0.001 for bike distance, p < 0.01 for steps, paired t-test). The changes for each of the latter two assessments differed significantly between beverages (p < 0.01, unpaired t-test). In conclusion, acute use of a nutritional drink improved performance in middle + later stages of aerobic exercise lasting under 1 hour. Future work can establish an optimal ingredient mix.