The Effect of Different Post-Exercise Beverages with Food on Voluntary Dietary Intake and Subsequent Performance

Abstract

PURPOSE: Recent evidence suggests that different beverages promote similar fluid recovery but alter nutrient provision when consumed voluntarily with food post-exercise (Campagnolo et al., 2017; McCartney et al., In Press). However, when preparing to undertake another bout of exercise, individuals may exhibit different dietary behavior (e.g. to reduce gastrointestinal distress, optimize performance). This study investigated the effect of consuming water or a carbohydrate (CHO)-electrolyte sports beverage (’Sports Drink’) ad libitum with food during a 4h post-exercise recovery period on fluid restoration, nutrient provision, and subsequent endurance cycling performance. METHODS: On two occasions, 16 trained cyclists, 8 male (M) (age: 31±9y; VO2max: 54±6mL.kg-1.min-1) and 8 female (F) (age: 33±8y; VO2max: 50±7mL.kg-1.min-1), lost 2.3±0.3% and 1.6±0.3% of their body mass (BM) (respectively) during 1h of fixed-intensity cycling. Participants then had ad libitum access to either Water or Sports Drink (103kJ·dL-1; 5.8g CHO·dL-1) and food for the first 195 min of a 4h recovery period. At the end of the recovery period, participants completed a cycling performance test (45 min fixed-intensity pre-load and an incremental test to exhaustion [peak power output, PPO]). Beverage intake; water/nutrient intake; and indicators of fluid recovery (BM, urine output, plasma osmolality [POSM]) were assessed throughout trials. RESULTS: Participants returned to a similar state of positive fluid balance prior to recommencing exercise, regardless of the beverage provided (Water: +0.4±0.5 L; Sports Drink: +0.3±0.3 L, p=0.529). While Sports Drink increased post-exercise energy (M: +1.8±1.0MJ; F: +1.3±0.5MJ) and CHO (M: +114±31g; F: +84±25g) intake (p's<0.001), this did not affect subsequent endurance cycling performance (Water: 337±40W [M] and 252±50W [F]; Sports Drink: 340±40W [M] and 258±47W [F], p=0.242). CONCLUSIONS: Recovery beverage recommendations should consider the post-exercise environment (i.e. availability of food), an individual's tolerance for food/fluid, the immediate requirements for refueling (e.g. CHO demands of subsequent activity) and the athlete's overall dietary goals.