The best carbohydrate combo for altitude 🏔️
Does altitude change the fuelling equation?
Glucose and fructose contributions to exogenous carbohydrate oxidation and performance at moderate altitude
Study Details
This new study investigated the effects of three carb formulations on exogenous carb oxidation and performance in trained male runners 🔍
1️⃣ Glucose (1.2 g/min)
2️⃣ Glucose (1.2 g/min) + fructose (0.8 g/min)
3️⃣ Placebo
…during 120 min steady state running + 5km time trial at altitude (2500m) 🏔️
The glucose-fructose condition was completed across two phases with isotope tracers on glucose (A) and fructose (B) to establish specific oxidation rates within the combined formula🔬
Key Findings
🔥 Glucose-fructose (GLU-FRU) led to significantly greater exogenous carb oxidation and lower endogenous carb oxidation compared with glucose (GLU) alone
⏱️ Time to complete the 5 km run was significantly faster in GLU and GLU-FRU compared with placebo
❌ But there were no differences in performance between carb conditions
Conclusion
Co-ingestion of GLU–FRU at altitude increased exogenous and spared endogenous carb oxidation over glucose alone (just like sea level) ✅
Multiple transportable carbohydrates are the optimal fuel source for metabolism at altitude 🥤
But differences in performance may not be seen (yet?) 🧐
Reference
https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP289885
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