BANANAS HAVE A SIMILAR EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE TO A 6% CARBOHYDRATE SPORTS DRINK

Nieman, D. C., Gillitt, N., Sha, W., Shanelly, A., Knab, A., & Kam, L. (2012). Similar metabolite shifts following 75-km cycling time-trials when ingesting bananas or a carbohydrate beverage. Presentation 1320 at the 59th Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine, San Francisco, California; May 29-June 2, 2012.

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This study compared the acute effect of ingesting bananas versus a 6% carbohydrate sports drink on 75-km cycling performance and shifts in metabolites using metabolomics-based profiling. Trained cyclists (N=14) completed two 75-km cycling time-trials (three weeks apart) while ingesting bananas or a carbohydrate sports drink. Ss cycled on CompuTrainers for 75-km at the fastest pace possible while ingesting 0.2 gm/kg carbohydrate from bananas or a carbohydrate sports drink every 15 minutes. Blood samples were taken pre-exercise, immediately following, and one hour post-exercise.

Performance time did not differ between the two conditions. Of 103 metabolites detected, 56 had significant time-effects following the 75-km cycling bouts, and only one (dopamine) had a pattern of change that differed between the two conditions (higher with bananas). There were global metabolic differences between pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 1-hour post-exercise.

Implication. Bananas and a 6% carbohydrate sports drink have a similar pattern of heightened production of glutathione and utilization of fuel substrates in several pathways including glycolysis, lipolysis, and amino acid catabolism. Bananas have a higher level of dopamine which does not produce any performance benefit.

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