Carbohydrate ingestion and soccer skill performance during prolonged intermittent exercise

J Sports Sci. 2009 Dec;27(14):1499-508. doi: 10.1080/02640410903334772.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ingesting a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution, during the 90-min Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test, on soccer skill performance. Seventeen male soccer players ingested either a 6.4% carbohydrate-electrolyte solution or placebo solution equivalent to 8 ml . kg(-1) body mass before exercise and 3 ml . kg(-1) body mass after every 15 min of exercise, in a double-blind randomized cross-over design, with the trials separated by 7 days. The evening before the main trial, the participants performed glycogen-reducing exercise on a cycle ergometer (80 min at 70%[Vdot]O(2max)) and were then fed a low-carbohydrate meal. After a 12-h overnight fast, they performed The Loughborough Soccer Passing Test before and after every 15 min of exercise. Analysis of the combined skill test data showed a significant time effect (P = 0.001) with differences between 0-45 and 75-90 min (P < 0.05). There was a 3% reduction in skill performance from before to after exercise in the carbohydrate-electrolyte trial, whereas in the placebo trial the decrease was 14% (P = 0.07). In conclusion, skill performance during the simulated soccer activity appeared to deteriorate in the last 15-30 min of exercise. However, providing 52 g . h(-1) carbohydrate during exercise showed a tendency to better maintain soccer skill performance than a taste-matched placebo.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Athletic Performance / physiology*
  • Bicycling / physiology
  • Cross-Over Studies
  • Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted
  • Dietary Carbohydrates / administration & dosage*
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Exercise / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motor Skills / drug effects
  • Motor Skills / physiology*
  • Soccer / physiology*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Dietary Carbohydrates