Combined Carbohydrate and Protein Ingestion During Australian Rules Football Matches and Training Sessions Does Not Reduce Fatigue or Accelerate Recovery Throughout a Weeklong Junior Tournament

Abstract

Lee, NA, Fell, JW, Pitchford, NW, Hall, AH, Leveritt, MD, and Kitic, CM. Combined carbohydrate and protein ingestion during Australian rules football matches and training sessions does not reduce fatigue or accelerate recovery throughout a weeklong junior tournament. J Strength Cond Res 32(2): 344-355, 2018-Australian rules football (ARF) is a physically demanding sport that can induce high levels of fatigue. Fatigue may be intensified during periods where multiple matches are played with limited recovery time. Combined carbohydrate and protein (CHO + PRO) intake during physical activity may provide performance and recovery benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate whether CHO + PRO ingestion during ARF matches and training sessions throughout a tournament would enhance performance or recovery in comparison with CHO-only ingestion. Australian rules football players (n = 21) competing in a 7-day national tournament participated in this randomized and double-blinded study. Beverages containing either CHO (n = 10) or CHO + PRO (n = 11) were provided during matches (day 1, day 4, and day 7) and training sessions (day 2 and day 3). Countermovement jumps (CMJs), ratings of muscle soreness, and autonomic function were assessed throughout the tournament. Gastrointestinal tract (GI) discomfort was measured after matches. Countermovement jump peak velocity increased in the CHO + PRO group (p = 0.01) but not in the CHO group. There were no differences in the other CMJ variables. In both groups, muscle soreness increased from days 0 and 1 to day 2 (p ≤ 0.05) but did not remain elevated. R-R intervals (time elapsed between successive peaks in QRS complexes) increased in both groups from day 1 to day 7 (mean difference = 59.85 ms, p < 0.01). Postmatch GI discomfort was not different (p > 0.05) between groups. When daily dietary protein is adequate (>1.8 g·kg·d), the ingestion of CHO + PRO during matches and training sessions throughout a tournament does not reduce muscle soreness nor have clear benefits for neuromuscular recovery or modulate autonomic function in junior ARF athletes, compared with that of CHO alone.

The Effect of Gut-Training and Feeding-Challenge on Markers of Gastrointestinal Status in Response to Endurance Exercise: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Participants in the included studies were between the ages of 15 and 35 years and were mostly males (79%). Almost all the studies were among cyclists, runners or triathletes with the exception of one which investigated elite junior Australian Rules Football players [ 46 ] and another which evaluated race walkers [ 28 ]. Exercise modalities used during gut-training or feeding-challenges included running ( n = 5), cycling ( n = 1), ball-skills sessions and intermittent running ( n = 1), race walking ( n = 1) or both running and cycling ( n = 1), while one study among cyclists and triathletes did not disclose details on daily training sessions.…”

“…Gut discomfort during exercise was also significantly reduced by 26% after repeated trials in the study by Lambert et al [ 48 ]. Lee et al [ 46 ] showed that the median score of post-match gut discomfort did not significantly differ across all football matches between players who ingested carbohydrate only and those who ingested carbohydrate and protein. Total gastrointestinal symptoms during and/or after exercise were significantly reduced post-intervention in the carbohydrate-supplement (60%) and carbohydrate-food (63%) groups in the study by Costa et al [ 5 ] and in the carbohydrate group (61%) in the Miall et al [ 49 ] study compared with placebo (25% and 2%, respectively).…”

“…The second study by King et al [ 28 ] among runners showed that total gastrointestinal symptoms were similarly increased across exercise in both trials and groups. Lee et al [ 46 ] used a 4-point Likert-type scale and reported that severe symptoms were not present in any of the groups or matches with no numerical data provided. Regarding upper gastrointestinal symptoms during and/or after exercise, these were significantly reduced post-intervention in the carbohydrate-supplement (64%) and carbohydrate-food (62%) groups in the Costa et al [ 5 ] study and in the carbohydrate group (70%) in Miall et al [ 49 ] study compared with placebo (25% and 10%, respectively).…”

“…The second study by King et al [28] among runners showed that total gastrointestinal symptoms were similarly increased across exercise in both trials and groups. Lee et al [46] In the study by King et al [28], upper gastrointestinal symptoms among the race walkers during and/or after exercise were significantly higher post-intervention compared with pre-intervention in the maximum carbohydrate group, but among the runners, this was significantly greater in the control group versus the maximum carbohydrate group in both trials. Costa et al [5] demonstrated a significant decrease in lower gastrointestinal symptoms during and/or after exercise post-intervention in the carbohydrate-supplement (40%) and carbohydrate-food (70%) groups compared with placebo (60%) using a 10-point Likert-type scale.…”

“…Participants in the included studies were between the ages of 15 and 35 years and were mostly males (79%). Almost all the studies were among cyclists, runners or triathletes with the exception of one which investigated elite junior Australian Rules Football players [46] and another which evaluated race walkers [28]. Exercise modalities used during gut-training or feeding-challenges included running (n = 5), Fig.…”