Do Sports Drinks Enhance Performance?
Sports drinks are a common site at practices and sporting events. But how beneficial are they? An article entitled 'Protein-added Sports Drinks Don't Boost Performance During Exercise, Study Finds' provides answers. Researchers at McCaster University concluded that proteins in sports drinks do not enhance performance. That is not to say that other ingredients in the drinks are without value. Carbohydrates, sodium and of course water, when consumed during prolonged exercise, do have beneficial effects. The following italicized paragraphs from the linked article detail the points made.
Martin Gibala, associate professor of kinesiology at McMaster University, has found that adding protein supplements to sports drinks has no effect on performance despite industry pressure to create new products touting supplements that improve physical performance. (Photo Credit: McMaster University)
"Sports drinks improve performance during prolonged exercise because of two key ingredients: carbohydrate, which provides fuel for working muscles, and sodium, which helps to maintain fluid balance," says Martin Gibala, an associate professor of kinesiology at McMaster. "Research also supports the practice of consuming protein after exercise to promote muscle recovery. However, the alleged benefit of consuming protein during exercise is controversial."
The study, which is published in the August edition of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, found that adding protein to a carbohydrate-electrolyte sports drink did not improve cycling time trial performance compared to the sports drink alone.
Although the study was funded by Gatorade the results of the study could come as a dissapointment for both consumers and manufacturers of drinks containing protein additives. More from the article:
"Eating a little protein after exercise is important to help repair damaged muscles and promote training adaptations," says Gibala, "but no compelling evidence suggests that endurance athletes need protein during exercise."
Protein is of course an essential nutrient and therefore beneficial but according to the study the immediate benefit is not greater athletic performance.
Martin Gibala, associate professor of kinesiology at McMaster University, has found that adding protein supplements to sports drinks has no effect on performance despite industry pressure to create new products touting supplements that improve physical performance. (Photo Credit: McMaster University)
"Sports drinks improve performance during prolonged exercise because of two key ingredients: carbohydrate, which provides fuel for working muscles, and sodium, which helps to maintain fluid balance," says Martin Gibala, an associate professor of kinesiology at McMaster. "Research also supports the practice of consuming protein after exercise to promote muscle recovery. However, the alleged benefit of consuming protein during exercise is controversial."
The study, which is published in the August edition of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, found that adding protein to a carbohydrate-electrolyte sports drink did not improve cycling time trial performance compared to the sports drink alone.
Although the study was funded by Gatorade the results of the study could come as a dissapointment for both consumers and manufacturers of drinks containing protein additives. More from the article:
"Eating a little protein after exercise is important to help repair damaged muscles and promote training adaptations," says Gibala, "but no compelling evidence suggests that endurance athletes need protein during exercise."
Protein is of course an essential nutrient and therefore beneficial but according to the study the immediate benefit is not greater athletic performance.
posted by Paul at 9:33 AM
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