Crawford, G. E., Miller, G. S., Womack, J. W., Green, J. S., & Crouse, S. F. (2006). Effect of carbohydrate and carbohydrate-protein supplementation on power performance in collegiate football players. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 38(5), Supplement abstract 1991.

This study determined whether power output during the latter stages in a series of repeated maximal or near maximal effort anaerobic exercises simulating a football game task was altered when consuming a carbohydrate-protein beverage, a carbohydrate-only beverage, or a placebo. Collegiate male football players (N = 18) completed experimental exercise sessions on three separate occasions, spaced one week apart. Ss were asked to perform a series of maximal-effort weighted sled-pushes, which simulated a game-type activity over two halves of a football game separated by a 20-minute simulated half-time recovery period. Maximal muscle power was assessed for each athlete from a series of maximal jump-and-reach tests. The experimental beverages were administered during the first five minutes of the 20-minute simulated half-time recovery period. Water was permitted ad libitum throughout each exercise session. The experimental beverages used were; 1) a commercially available flavored aspartame-sweetened placebo beverage (300 ml, 5 kcal), 2) a commercially available carbohydrate beverage, (300 ml, 67.5 g CHO, 270 kcal), and 3) a commercially available carbohydrate-protein beverage (243 ml diluted with water to 300 ml, 45 g CHO, 15 g Protein, 270 kcal). All beverages were randomly assigned each week and each player experienced all three beverages.

Jump-power was significantly higher after carbohydrate than carbohydrate-protein drinks. Carbohydrate and placebo treatments did not differ.

Implication. Carbohydrate-only drinks facilitate greater power in football skills than carbohydrate-protein or placebo beverages.

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