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Ingesting a 6% carbohydrate-electrolyte solution improves endurance capacity, but not sprint performance, during intermittent, high-intensity shuttle running in adolescent team games players aged 12–14 years

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Abstract

The main aim of this study was to investigate the influence of consuming a 6% carbohydrate-electrolyte (CHO-E) solution on the intermittent, high-intensity endurance performance and capacity of adolescent team games players. Fifteen participants (mean age 12.7 ± 0.8 years) performed two trials separated by 3–7 days. In each trial, they completed 60 min of exercise composed of four 15-min periods of part A of the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test, followed by an intermittent run to exhaustion (part B). In a double-blind, randomised, counterbalanced fashion participants consumed either the 6% CHO-E solution or a non-carbohydrate (CHO) placebo (5 ml kg−1 BM) during the 5 min pre-trial and after each 15-min period of part A (2 ml kg−1 BM). Time to fatigue was increased by 24.4% during part B when CHO was ingested (5.1 ± 1.8 vs. 4.1 ± 1.6 min, P < 0.05), with distance covered in part B also significantly greater in the CHO trial (851 ± 365 vs. 694 ± 278 m, P < 0.05). No significant between-trials differences were observed for mean 15-m sprint time (P = 0.35), peak sprint time (P = 0.77), or heart rate (P = 0.08) during part A. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that ingestion of a CHO-E solution significantly improves the intermittent, high-intensity endurance running capacity of adolescent team games players during an exercise protocol designed to simulate the physiological demands of team games.

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of High5 Ltd, Bardon, Leicestershire, UK, for the supply of maltodextrin, electrolyte tablets, and drink bottles to enable completion of this study. The authors confirm that the conduct of this study complied fully with current Scottish law, and with the full ethical approval of the University of Edinburgh, Moray House School of Education ethics committee.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare they have no conflict of interest regarding this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education, Sport and Leisure Studies, University of Edinburgh, St Leonards Land, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh, EH8 8AQ, UK

    Shaun M. Phillips, Anthony P. Turner, Shirley Gray, Mark F. Sanderson & John Sproule

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  1. Shaun M. Phillips
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  2. Anthony P. Turner
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  3. Shirley Gray
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  4. Mark F. Sanderson
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  5. John Sproule
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Correspondence to Shaun M. Phillips.

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Communicated by Jacques Poortmans.

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Phillips, S.M., Turner, A.P., Gray, S. et al. Ingesting a 6% carbohydrate-electrolyte solution improves endurance capacity, but not sprint performance, during intermittent, high-intensity shuttle running in adolescent team games players aged 12–14 years. Eur J Appl Physiol 109, 811–821 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-010-1404-z

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