Betts, J. A., Duffy, K., Gunner, F., & Williams, C. (2005). Recovery of endurance running capacity following ingestion of carbohydrate plus protein. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 37(5), Supplement abstract 2187.

Males (N = 6) participated in three trials separated by at least seven days. All trials involved a glycogen-lowering run (90 minutes at 70% VO2max) followed by a 4-hour recovery. At 30-minute intervals in the recovery Ss ingested a solution containing CHO alone (0.8 gm/kg), a solution of CHO (0.8 gm/kg) plus protein (0.3 gm/kg), or a solution containing CHO++ (1.1 gm/kg). After recovery, Ss ran to exhaustion at 70% VO2max.

Endurance capacity in the second run was significantly higher in the CHO++ and CHO plus protein trials than in the CHO alone trial. Higher insulinaemic responses were recorded in the CHO plus protein trial than the CHO alone trial.

Implication. Carbohydrate plus protein fosters endurance recovery as well as an equal volume of CHO.

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