Pre-exercise Trehalose Ingestion Enhanced Exercise Performance in Male Collegiate Distance Runners

Abstract

A total of 10 male collegiate distance runners participated in a randomized crossover trial. After completing a warm-up, each participant ingested 300 mL of a test drink and performed 2 sets of pedaling for the duration of 10 minutes (tests 1 and 3) and a 30-second sprint test (tests 2 and 4) with 3-minute interval. During the exercise tests, participants were instructed to make a full power output in 30-second sprint tests and to keep the effort equivalent to their own pace in 10 000 m track race without a final push in the 10-minute pedaling phase. The test drinks allocated to the participants were either trehalose (6% w/v), glucose (6% w/v), or water. During the 4 tests, trehalose presented with the highest mean power outputs compared to that of glucose and water. It was statistically significant against water and glucose especially in the first 10 minutes of pedaling (test 1) and the last 30 seconds of sprint tests (test 4). Therefore, data indicate that trehalose may enhance exercise performance.