Effects of Sucrose or Caffeine Ingestion on Running Performance and Biochemical Responses to Endurance Running

Abstract

To elucidate the effects of sucrose or caffeine ingestion on metabolic responses to prolonged exercise and on performance of a finishing spurt after the prolonged exercise, seven male physical education students performed four sets of 30 min running (62%-67% VO2 max) followed by progressive exhaustive running on a treadmill. Before each set, they took 350 ml solution containing either sucrose 23.8 g (97.5 kcal), caffeine 200 mg, or a placebo. The duration of the exhaustive running after sucrose, caffeine, or placebo ingestion was not significantly different. Exhaustion would possibly be attained not by depletion of muscle glycogen but by a decrease in the capacity of muscle cells to produce high tension for anaerobic metabolism. Total energy and energy from carbohydrate combusted during four sets of running were estimated at 1255 kcal and 810 kcal in the sucrose trial, 1271 kcal and 624 kcal in the caffeine trial, and 1248 kcal and 649 kcal in the placebo trial. Judging from the figures above, glycogen sparing during prolonged running seemed to be attained by sucrose ingestion but not by caffeine ingestion. The latter finding would be caused by lower intensity and a larger amount of ingested caffeine. In conclusion, performance of progressive exhaustive running following endurance running for 2 h could not be improved either by sucrose or caffeine ingestion. Glycogen sparing in the muscle, however, was suggested by sucrose ingestion but not by caffeine ingestion.

Exercise endurance 1, 3, and 6 h after caffeine ingestion in caffeine users and nonusers

“…Furthermore, our findings 3 h after ingestion are consistent with a previous study by Flinn et al (12). However, other inconsistent findings have been reported in the literature perhaps partially because of doses of the drug that have either been too low or exceedingly high (4,31).…”

Fuel kinetics during intense running and cycling when fed carbohydrate

“…Most (Hargreaves et al, 1984;Fielding et al 1985;Coyle et al 1986;Coggan andCoyle 1987, 1989;Williams et al 1990;Wilber and Moffat, 1992), but not all (Felig et al, 1982;Sasaki et al, 1987, Noakes et al 1988b, Riley et al, 1988 studies have shown that CHO ingestion can improve exercise performance. Indeed, a recent study has shown a large 29% increase in the endurance performance of runners when ingesting CHO and exercising at speeds eliciting 80% of V0 2 max (Wilber and Moffat, 1992).…”

“…It has been proposed that CHO ingestion during cycling postpones the onset of fatigue primarily by maintaining plasma glucose concentrations and high rates of CHO oxidation late in exercise (Coggan and Coyle 1991 ). However, CHO ingestion has failed to improve exercise performance during some (Noakes et al 1988b;Riley et al 1988;Sasaki et al 1987) but not all (Gordon et al 1925;Tsintzas et al 1993a;Williams et al 1990) studies of endurance running.…”

Influence of Carbohydrate-Electrolyte Drinks on Muscle Metabolism and Endurance Running Performance in Man

“…During prolonged running exercise without CHO ingestion, however, blood glucose concentration does not appear to decrease to the extent it decreases during cycling exercise Sasaki et al 1987b). In fact, in most running studies blood glucose does not even decline (Tsintzas et al 1993;Madsen et al 1990;Sasaki et al 1987a;Riley et al 1988;Fruth and Gisolfi, 1983;Macaraeg, 1983;Wilber and Moffatt, 1992;Millard-Stafford, 1992;Wells et al 1985;Seidman et al 1991;Owen et al 1986;Giles and Maclaren, 1984).…”

“…In most of these studies, CHO ingestion resulted in increased blood glucose compared with placebo. When water or placebo is ingested CHO oxidation rates are maintained throughout exercise in most Madsen et al 1990;Riley et al 1988;Fruth and Gisolfi, 1983;Wilber and Moffatt, 1992;Millard-Stafford, 1992;Sasaki et al 1987a) but not all (Sasaki et al 1987b;Giles and Maciaren, 1984;Owen et al 1986) studies. Moreover, when CHO is ingested CHO oxidation rates are either similar Fruth and Gisolfi, 1983;Riley et al 1988;Millard-Stafford, 1992;Owen et al 1986) or higher (Sasaki et al 1987a;1987b;Wilber and Moffatt, 1992;Giles and Maclaren, 1984) compared with the control.…”