THE EFFECT OF A TAURINE-CONTAINING DRINK ON PERFORMANCE IN 10 ENDURANCE-ATHLETES

To determine the effect of a taurine-enriched drink ''Red Bull'' on pe rformance, 10 endurance-athletes performed three trials. After 60 min. cycling at approximately 70% VO2 max, the subjects pedalled to exhaus tion on a cycle ergometer. During each exercise, the subjects received 500 ml of a test-drink after 30 min. submaximal cycling: ''Red Bull'' without taurine, without glucuronolacton (U1), ''Red Bull'' without t aurine, without glucuronolacton, without caffeine (U2) and ''Red Bull' ' original drink containing taurine, glucuronolacton and caffeine (U3) . The heart rate level was significantly lower in U3 (p = 0,0031) 15 m in. after application. The plasma catecholamines increased slightly fr om begin of exercise to 15 min. after application of the drinks in all trials but remained on a significantly lower level in U3 (epinephrine (p = 0,0011) and norepinephrine (p = 0,0003). Endurance time was sign ificantly longer with ''Red Bull'' original in U3 (p = 0,015). The res ults of this study show a positive effect of a taurine-containing drin k on hormonal responses which leads to a higher performance.