Double-blind study of possible proximity effect of sucrose on skeletal muscle strength

The hypotheses that close physical proximity to sucrose, without its ingest ion, affects skeletal muscle strength and time between meals influences the direction of this effect, were tested. 28 college students performed 10 on e-arm curls using the dominant arm, while either holding a bottle containin g sucrose or sand in the free band, without knowledge of which bottle was h eld. Data were first collected following an overnight East. A week later, d ata were collected 1 hr, after these students had each consumed a bagel. Du ring the fasting stare, the mean maximal isometric strength while holding t he bottle of sucrose was significantly greater than when holding a bottle o f sand; however, no significant difference was found for the group tested a fter having consumed a bagel. Some possible explanations for these results are discussed, recognizing limitations imposed by lack of control for order of conditions and amount of experience.