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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Carl Hulston
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
© 2022 by the authors. Carbohydrate consumption during exercise enhances endurance performance. A food-focused approach may offer an alternative, ‘healthier’ approach given the potential health concerns associated with artificial fructose sources, but food-based carbohydrate sources may increase gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. This study compared the cycling performance and GI comfort of two different fructose sources (fruit and artificial) ingested during exercise. Nine trained male cyclists (age 24 ± 7 years; VO2peak 65 ± 6 mL/kg/min) completed a familiarisation and two experimental trials (60 g/h carbohydrate, 120 min at 55% Wmax and ~15 min time trial). In the two experimental trials, carbohydrate was ingested in a 2:1 glucose-to-fructose ratio, with fructose provided as artificial crystalline fructose (GLU/FRU) or natural apple puree (APPLE PUREE) and maltodextrin added to provide sufficient glucose. Time trial (TT) performance was not different between trials (GLU/FRU 792 ± 68 s, APPLE PUREE 800 ± 65 s; p = 0.313). No GI symptoms were significantly different between trials (p ≥ 0.085). Heart rate, blood glucose/lactate concentrations, and RPE were not different between trials, but all, excluding blood glucose concentration, increased from rest to exercise and further increased post-TT. Apple puree as a natural fructose source provides an alternative to artificial fructose sources without influencing cycling performance or GI symptoms.
Author(s): Reynolds KM, Juett LA, Cobb J, Hulston CJ, Mears SA, James LJ
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Nutraceuticals
Year: 2022
Volume: 2
Issue: 3
Pages: 205-217
Online publication date: 22/08/2022
Acceptance date: 17/08/2022
Date deposited: 13/05/2025
ISSN (electronic): 1661-3821
Publisher: MDPI
URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/nutraceuticals2030015
DOI: 10.3390/nutraceuticals2030015
Data Access Statement: The data for this study is not publicly available.
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