Carbohydrate Oxidation in Elite Wheelchair Racers During Marathon Simulation (COW)

To examine the effect of varying amounts of carbohydrate ingestion on performance, gastrointestinal experiences, and other physiological markers in elite wheelchair racers during a simulated marathon.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Dietary Carbohydrate; Para-Athletes
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Carbohydrate dosing

Detailed Description

The metabolic demands created by endurance activities, which include muscle and liver glycogen depletion as well as losses in body fluids and electrolytes, are significant limitations to the performance potential of the athlete. For this reason, a well-supported recommendation exists for such athletes to consume a carbohydrate (CHO) formula, in particular, one containing electrolytes during their activity. Furthermore, the current CHO recommendations to support prolonged activity have been developed specifically for able-bodied athletes, thus are potentially inappropriate for para athletes.

Metabolic and physiological functions are altered in individuals with physical disabilities, so it is unknown how transferable these recommendations are to para athletes. As such, it is important to understand this population's unique carbohydrate requirements for performance optimization.

Recently, our group showed stable elevated circulating glucose concentrations by utilizing two different sources of CHO dosed at 60 g/h when compared to water. Significantly improved performance was observed with both CHO conditions. These findings, combined with studies showing decreased net muscle glycogen degradation during intravenous glucose infusion (3.5 g/min), show the importance of plasma glucose concentration for sustained performance. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the SCI-specific responses to exogenous CHO during a full marathon simulation (MS).

Twelve highly trained men and women (20-50 yrs old) will be recruited to the study. The inclusion criteria are: 1.) Best marathon time lower than 2h 2.) and ≥6 months of prior training history. After initial screenings, participants will perform three marathon (MS) trials. In cross-over trials, each subject will participate in a MS trial consisting of a challenge (90% of subject's best marathon time) followed by a time trial (TT) representing the last 10% of the marathon time. During each MS trial, participants will be randomly assigned to receive either water, 30g, or 60g of carbohydrate (CHO) every 15 minutes in the form of a sports nutrition beverage. Repeated blood and breath sampling will occur throughout the MS. These samples will be used to determine glucose concentration, lactate concentration, as well as CHO and fat oxidation. Heart rate, core temperature, blood pressure, ratings of perceived exertion and GI symptoms will also be assessed throughout the MS and after the time trial.

Completion of this research study will help to identify more appropriate CHO recommendations for para athletes to support prolonged endurance exercise. This will aid in the understanding of the unique physiological and metabolic needs of para athletes as compared to their able-bodied counterparts, thus enhancing inclusivity within sports nutrition literature.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 12
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Susannah E Scaroni, B.S.; Phone Number: 509-280-3743; Email: scaroni1@illinois.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Amadeo F Salvador, M.S.; Email: amadeos2@illinois.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Champaign, Illinois, United States, 61820
      • Disability Rehababilitation and Education Services
      • Contact: Maureen Gilbert, M.S.; Phone Number: 217-333-4607; Email: mlgilbrt@illinois.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 50 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• < 2-hour best marathon time

  • 6 months prior training history

Exclusion Criteria:

• - Chronic Smoking or tobacco use
• Active cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes Mellitus or other metabolic disorders
• Liver kidney, or urinary disease
• Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic disorders (e.g., osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, tendinitis, gout, fibromyalgia, patellar tendinopathy, or chronic low back pain)
• Neuromuscular disorders
• hypertension
• Diagnosed GI tract diseases
• Heart Disease
• Neurological disease
• Epilepsy
• Respiratory disease
• Pregnancy
• Contraindications for exercise
• <6 months of prior training history

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Carbohydrate Dose: 0 grams carbohydrate; Participants will be randomly selected, in a cross-over fashion, to ingest 0 grams/hour, 30 grams/ hour, or 60 grams/ hour of carbohydrate beverage throughout each experimental trial.	Other: Carbohydrate dosing; The purpose of this study is to examine effects of different carbohydrate doses during marathon simulation in elite wheelchair racers.
Experimental: Carbohydrate Dose: 30 grams carbohydrate; Participants will be randomly selected, in a cross-over fashion, to ingest 0 grams/hour, 30 grams/ hour, or 60 grams/ hour of carbohydrate beverage throughout each experimental trial.	Other: Carbohydrate dosing; The purpose of this study is to examine effects of different carbohydrate doses during marathon simulation in elite wheelchair racers.
Experimental: Carbohydrate Dose: 60 grams carbohydrate; Participants will be randomly selected, in a cross-over fashion, to ingest 0 grams/hour, 30 grams/ hour, or 60 grams/ hour of carbohydrate beverage throughout each experimental trial.	Other: Carbohydrate dosing; The purpose of this study is to examine effects of different carbohydrate doses during marathon simulation in elite wheelchair racers.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Performance	Performance will be measured by time required to complete a 2.6 mile time-trial immediately following marathon simulation	10-15 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Ratings of gastrointestinal (GI) experiences	Using a visual analog scale (Visual Analog Symptom Scale), participants will record GI symptoms (from 0-100 whereby higher numbers indicate worse experiences) at various time points throughout experimental trial	Throughout experimental protocol for 1.5 - 2 hours
Blood Glucose Concentration	Blood glucose concentration will be measured at various time points throughout experimental trial	Throughout experimental protocol for 1.5 - 2 hours
Blood Lactate Concentration	Blood lactate concentration will be measured at various time points throughout experimental trials	Throughout experimental protocol for 1.5 - 2 hours
Core Temperature	Core temperature will be measured at various time points throughout experimental trials via ingestible thermometer sensors	Throughout experimental protocol for 1.5 - 2 hours
Rated Perceived Exertion (RPE)	RPE, or how hard an athlete feels they are working, will be recorded at various time points throughout the experimental trial	Throughout experimental protocol for 1.5 - 2 hours

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nicholas A Burd, PhD, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Anticipated): December 1, 2022
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2023
• Study Completion (Anticipated): July 1, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 28, 2019
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 28, 2019
• First Posted (Actual): October 30, 2019

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 28, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 26, 2021
• Last Verified: April 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 20020

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Data will be coded and de-identified.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No