CHOCOLATE MILK IS AN ACCEPTABLE RECOVERY BEVERAGE

Gilson, S. F., Saunders, M J., Moran, C. W., Corriere, D. F., Moore, R. W., Womack, C. J., & Todd, M. K. (2009).Effects of chocolate milk consumption on markers of muscle recovery during intensified soccer training. ACSM 56th Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington. Presentation number 2934.

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This study determined the effectiveness of chocolate milk as a post-exercise recovery beverage during intensified training in Collegiate soccer players (N = 13). Ss completed two intervention periods, each consisting of one week of "normal" training followed by four days of intensified-training. Immediately following each day of intensified-training, Ss received either a high-carbohydrate or chocolate milk recovery beverage. Treatment beverages were isocaloric, and delivered in a randomly-counterbalanced double-blind protocol. Serum creatine kinase and myoglobin levels, muscle soreness, mental and physical fatigue, peak isometric force of the quadriceps, and leg-extension repetitions at 70% 1-RM were obtained prior to and following two and four days of intensified-training. Soccer-specific performance tests (t-drill, vertical jump and 1.5 mile run speed) were performed within the training sessions.

Average daily training times and heart rates increased significantly between baseline and intensified-training periods, with no differences between treatment periods. Soreness, creatine kinase, myoglobin, peak isometric force and leg-extension repetitions were all significantly altered over time during the intensified-training period. No significant treatment x time interaction was observed. However, serum creatine kinase levels during the chocolate milk treatment were significantly lower than carbohydrate following two and four days of intensified-training. No significant differences in soccer-specific performance tests were observed between treatment beverages.

Implication. Post-exercise chocolate milk consumption provided equal or possibly superior muscle recovery responses to an isocaloric, high-carbohydrate recovery beverage following a four-day period of intensified soccer training. Performances in soccer-specific field tests were similar between beverage treatments.

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