LOWER GLYCEMIC INDEX MEALS BETTER FOR PERFORMANCE

Kirwan, J. P., Cyr-Campbell, D., Campbell, W. W., Scheier, J. F., Farrell, P. A., & Evans, W. J. (1998). Effects of pre-exercise meals with a moderate or high glycemic index on exercise performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 30(5), Supplement abstract 879.

Males (N = 6) ingested 75 gm of CHO in the form of two different breakfast cereals: rolled oats (GI = 65) or puffed rice (GI = 82) combined with water, and water alone, 45 minutes before cycling to exhaustion at 60% VO2peak.

The moderate GI meal enhanced performance time by maintaining plasma glucose during exercise and minimizing the suppression of plasma free fatty acids prior to exercise.

Implication. Lower GI meals have a better effect on endurance performance than high GI meals.

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