How much carbohydrate should be consumed during exercise to
improve endurance performance. The basic question was answered by
researchers decades ago. Carbohydrate consumption enhances endurance
performance. Subsequent research has better defined the relationship between
consumption and performance. For example short acting high glycemic
carbohydrate has a greater positive effect than longer acting
carbohydrates. We also know that the addition of protein in a 4-1 ratio
improves endurance performance and post exercise recovery.
The question that still
remains is how much carbohydrate should actually be consumed.
Too little and there is marginal impact on performance; too much and G.I.
problems will occur. A recent study by British researchers may answer the
question. The study evaluated four levels of carbohydrate ingestion on endurance
performance, 0, 20, 39 or 64 grams per hour. As shown in the figure below 20
grams/hour provided a small improvement in endurance; 40 grams per hour
provided a significant boost- 6.1%. Increasing the carbohydrate
to 64 grams/hour did not significantly improve endurance further. Thus the
ideal carbohydrate consumption rate during exercise is 40 grams/hour.
The study also analyzed
other metabolic data which will be which is certainly of interest to the
endurance athlete and will be reviewed in future in Performance Nutrition Tips.
