CARBOHYDRATE DRINKS DELAY FATIGUE DURING INTERMITTENT, HIGH-INTENSITYCYCLING IN ACTIVE MEN AND WOMEN

The effects of ingesting carbohydrate drinks on fatigue during intermi ttent, high-intensity cycling in men and women were determined. Physic ally active but untrained women (n = 7) and men (rt = 9) completed one practice trial and two experimental sessions separated by 1 week. Ses sions consisted of repeated 1-min cycling bouts on a bicycle ergometer at 120-130% (V) over dot O-2 max separated by 3 min rest until fatigu e. Carbohydrate (CHO) or placebo (P) beverages (4 ml . kg body weight( -1)) were ingested immediately before exercise (18% CHO) and every 20 min during exercise (6% CHO). Plasma glucose and insulin were higher, RPE for the legs was lower, and time to fatigue was longer in CHO than P. Men's and women's responses were not different for any variable me asured. These data suggest a beneficial role of CHO drinks on performa nce of intermittent, high-intensity exercise in men and women.