Niles, E. S., Lachowetz, T., Garfi, J., Smith, J., Sullivan, W., & Headley, S. (1997). The effect of a carbohydrate-protein drink on muscle glycogen resynthesis after endurance exercise. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 29(5), Supplement abstract 722.

The effects of a carbohydrate (CHO) and CHO+protein (PRO) drink on recovery from muscle glycogen depleting endurance exercise were studied in males (N = 10).

Drinks consisted of either a 152.7 gm CHO or a 112 gm CHO and 40 gm PRO drink. After a glycogen lowering diet and run, two dosages of the drinks were administered 60 min apart. Physiological and blood variables were measured immediately after the run (before the first drink) and 75-90 min into recovery.

It was found that the CHO-PRO hastened the recovery process more than the pure CHO drink. The effect was enhanced insulin release which facilitated glycogen resynthesis.

Implication. Recovery is accelerated by ingesting a CHO+PRO drink as opposed to a CHO-alone drink. If other investigations support this process there might be a need to specifically develop endurance-exercise recovery fluids.

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