Carbohydrate Mouth Rinse Improves Mean Power During Multiple Sprint Performance

Abstract

Multiple investigations have confirmed carbohydrate mouth rinse (CMR) enhances high intensity endurance performance lasting under 1 hour, but the effects of CMR on high intensity intermittent exercise have received little attention. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of a CMR on high intensity multiple sprint performances. METHODS: Competitive, male, athletes (n = 8) (31.1 ± 7.1 years, 185 ± 9 cm, 87.4 ± 15.3 kg, VO2peak 49.9 ± 7.8 ml/kg*min-132) completed two, 48 min high intensity intermittent cycling protocols that consisted of 6 bouts of 5 min cycling at 50% VO2 peak followed by sets of three, 10-s Wingate sprints with 50 s of recovery between sprints. Prior to each set of Wingate sprints, either a 6.4% carbohydrate solution (CMR) or placebo (PLA) were rinsed for 10 s using a counterbalanced crossover design. RESULTS: There was a significant main effect (CMR 912 ± 168, PLA 896 ± 161 W; p < 0.05 ES=0.10) for mean power, but post hoc tests only revealed significant performance improvement with CMR during the 6th bout (CMR 912 ± 167, PLA 885 ± 153 W; p < 0.05 ES=0.17). No treatment effect was exhibited for peak power, fatigue index, rate of perceived exertion, or blood glucose. Most team based sport provide multiple opportunities for access to carbohydrate beverages. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the 1.9% increase in performance with a CMR on mean power observed in the current study, a CMR may serve as a practical ergogenic option for high intensity intermittent sports.Supported by Master’s Research Grant from Central Washington University’s School of Graduate Studies and Research