Effects of Highly Branched Cyclic Dextrin-Based Carbohydrate and Protein Co-Ingestion on Endurance Capacity and Metabolic Response in Soccer Players: A Randomized Crossover Trial
Study Details
This new study examined whether highly branched cyclic dextrin (HBCD), alone or with whey protein, influenced metabolism and fatigue-limited performance during ~120 min of soccer-specific intermittent exercise in 9 male collegiate players 🔍
🥤 Players consumed 500 mL across pre-exercise and half-time: water, 40 g HBCD, or an isocaloric mix of 32 g HBCD + 8 g whey protein
Key Findings
🍞 HBCD alone increased carbohydrate oxidation late in exercise versus placebo
🔥 Fat oxidation was correspondingly lower with HBCD, indicating greater reliance on carbohydrate as fatigue accumulated
↔️ HBCD alone did not significantly improve final run-to-fatigue performance versus placebo
📈 However, running time was ~21% longer numerically with HBCD than placebo, which the small study may have been underpowered to detect
⚡ HBCD + whey significantly increased run-to-fatigue time versus placebo: 338 vs 219 seconds
🏃 Running distance was also significantly greater: 1297 vs 841 m
⚠️ Importantly, neither running time nor distance differed significantly between HBCD + whey and HBCD alone
😮💨 Perceived exertion at 90 min was significantly lower with HBCD + whey than placebo
🫀 Heart rate was unaffected by beverage condition
😮💨 Gastrointestinal symptoms remained low and did not differ between conditions, supporting good tolerance of both HBCD drinks
🧬 The performance benefit with HBCD + whey occurred without greater whole-body carbohydrate oxidation than HBCD alone, suggesting other mechanisms may be involved
Conclusion
Possible explanations include altered glycaemia, amino acid availability or fatigue perception, but insulin, glucose, muscle damage and neuromuscular function were not measured 🧐
The study included only 9 men and used a treadmill simulation rather than an actual match ⚠️
For soccer players, HBCD consumed before exercise and at half-time appears well tolerated and can support late-exercise carbohydrate use, while adding a small amount of whey may further support fatigue resistance, although this study does not establish that carbohydrate + protein is superior to carbohydrate alone ✅
Reference
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42739027/
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