CARBOHYDRATE SUPPLEMENTATION AFFECTS BLOOD GRANULOCYTE AND MONOCYTE TRAFFICKING BUT NOT FUNCTION AFTER 2.5 H OF RUNNING

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was designed t o determine the influence of carbohydrate supplementation on the granu locyte and monocyte response to 2.5 h of high-intensity running [76.7 +/- 0.4% of maximal oxygen consumption ((V) over dotO(2)max)]. Thirty experienced marathon runners ((V) over dotO(2)max 53.4 +/- 1.0 mL.kg(- 1).min(-1), age 41.5 +/- 1.4 y) were randomly assigned to carbohydrate -supplement (n = 17) and placebo (n = 13) groups. Subjects rested for 10-15 min before a blood sample was taken at 0715, and then ingested 0 .75 L carbohydrate beverage or placebo. At 0730 subjects began running at 75-80% of (V) over dotO(2)max for 2.5 h, and drank 0.25 L carbohyd rate or placebo fluid every 15 min. Immediately after the 2.5-h run (1 000), another blood sample was taken, followed by 1.5-h, 3-h, and 6-h recovery samples. Carbohydrate supplementation had a significant effec t compared with placebo on the pattern of change in plasma glucose and cortisol, and the blood concentration of neutrophils (F-[4,F- 112] = 5.13, P = 0.001) and monocytes (F-[4,F- 112] = 4.78, P = 0.001), but n ot on blood granulocyte and monocyte phagocytosis or oxidative burst a ctivity after 2.5 h of intensive running.