Mouth rinsing improves cycling endurance performance during Ramadan fasting in a hot humid environment

Abstract

This study examined the effect of mouth rinsing during endurance cycling in a hot humid environment (32 °C and 75% relative humidity) on athletes in the Ramadan fasted state. Nine trained adolescent male cyclists completed 3 trials that consisted of a carbohydrate mouth-rinse (CMR), a placebo mouth-rinse (PMR), and a no-rinse (NOR) trial during the last 2 weeks of Ramadan. Each trial consisted of a preloading cycle at 65% peak rate of oxygen consumption for 30 min followed by a 10-km time trial (TT10 km) under hot humid condition. During the CMR and PMR trials, each cyclist rinsed his mouth with 25 mL of the solution for 5 s before expectorating the solution pre-exercise, after 5, 15, and 25 min of the preloading cycle, and 15 s prior to the start of TT10 km. Time to complete the TT10 km was significantly faster in the CMR and PMR trials compared with the NOR trial (12.9 ± 1.7 and 12.6 ± 1.7 vs. 16.8 ± 1.6 min, respectively; p < 0.017). Ratings of perceived exertion taken at the end of the TT10 km was lower in both CMR and PMR trials compared with the NOR trial, although the difference was significant only between CMR and NOR (p < 0.05). In conclusion, mouth rinsing with either carbohydrate or placebo solution provided ergogenic benefits compared with a no-rinse condition on TT10 km performance in acute Ramadan fasted subjects during endurance cycling in a heat stress environment.

The Effects of Carbohydrate Mouth Rinse Concentration on Cycling Time Trial Performance

“…However, there were no differences between time trial performance and RPE when rinsing with CHO compared to the placebo (12.9 ± 1.7min vs. 12.6 ±1.7min; RPE 6 ± 2 vs. 7 ±2) (Muhamed et al 2014). …”

“…However, Ispolgou et al (2015) showed no statistical difference in performance during a 1h cycling time trial when rinsing with a 4%, 6%, or 8% CHO mouth rinse when participants had consumed a meal three hours prior to beginning the trial. Muhamed et al (2014) found that time trial performance improved with both a placebo and CHO mouth rinse compared to not rinsing when participants were fasted during Ramadan. Lastly, Ataide-Silva et al (2016) found that following a muscle glycogen depleting bout of exercise and subsequent overnight fast, CHO mouth rinse restored EMG activity of the vastus lateralis and Examining studies demonstrating performance improvements with a CHO mouth rinse shows the importance of prandial state on the effectiveness of using a CHO mouth rinse.…”

“…However, the results of the present study are not supported by previous research that demonstrates the ergogenic effects of using a CHO mouth rinse. It has been proposed that performance improvements when using a CHO mouth rinse during exercise are principally seen when the athlete is fasted (Ataide-Silva et al, 2016;Muhamed et al, 2014;Fares & Kayser, 2011;Ispoglou et al, 2015;Lane et al, 2013). Time to exhaustion increased by 7% following an overnight fast and by 3% three hours after a meal was consumed (Fares & Kayser, 2011).…”

“…In a hot and humid environment during Ramadan fasting, Muhamed et al (2014) showed a CHO mouth rinse improved 10km cycling time trial performance following 30 minutes of preload exercise from 16.8 ± 1.6min to 12.9 ± 1.7min compared to not rinsing at all with a reduction in final RPE from 8 ± 1 to 6 ± 2. However, there were no differences between time trial performance and RPE when rinsing with CHO compared to the placebo (12.9 ± 1.7min vs. 12.6 ±1.7min; RPE 6 ± 2 vs. 7 ±2) (Muhamed et al 2014).…”

The Governor has a sweet tooth – Mouth sensing of nutrients to enhance sports performance

“…Meanwhile, as the deprivation of fluid and food intake is increased, even exposure in the oral cavity appears to enhance performance in the heat (Che Muhamed, Mohamed, Ismail, Aziz, & Singh, 2014). Of course, the methodology used in these studies cannot rule out a placebo effect of fluid exposure or a nocebo effect of no treatment.…”