Carbohydrate, Protein Combo Best for Glycogen Levels

Carbohydrate, Protein Combo Best for Glycogen Levels

AUSTIN, Texas--Researchers from the University of Texas,Austin, investigated whether a carbohydrate/protein supplement would be moreeffective in restoring muscle glycogen after exercise compared to a carbohydratesupplement or caloric equivalent. In a study appearing in the October Journalof Applied Physiology (93, 4:1337-44, 2002) (www.jap.org),seven subjects received three different regimens at 10 minutes and two hourspostexercise: 1) 80 g of carbohydrates and 28 g of protein; 2) 80 g ofcarbohydrates and 6 g of fat; or 3) 108 g of nutrients that were the caloricequivalent of the carbohydrate/protein supplement and 6 g of fat.

The study's authors, led by John Ivy, Ph.D., reported that while exercisesignificantly reduced muscle glycogen stores, glycogen was significantlyrecovered after four hours via the carbohydrate/protein supplement.