Influence of the Glycemic Index of Pre-exercise Meals in Sports Performance: A Systematic Review
Open accessAbstract
Introduction: Carbohydrate (CHO) is essential for physical exercise. Some strategies for improving performance are based on the manipulation of the glycemic index (GI) of this nutrient during pre-exercise. Although several studies have been conducted on this subject, the use of low or high GI in a pre-exercise meal to improve performance remains undefined. Methods: In the present systematic review, the Pubmed (Medline) and Virtual Health Library databases were searched for randomized clinical trials conducted with healthy, physically active adults between 2006 and 2019, in which performance in addition to blood biochemical parameters, substrate utilization, body composition, perception of effort, and gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated. The identified articles were independently and blindly evaluated by two authors, and any disagreements were resolved by a third investigator. Results: Five of the sixteen studies reviewed found differences in performance; of these, four were with low GI intervention. Few studies showed modifications in blood lactate and glucose levels beyond fatty free acid oxidation. No differences could be seen in the other parameters. The results as well as the methodologies used were heterogeneous; therefore, there are no clear advantages in determining the specific GI of the pre-exercise meal. Conclusions: There is no evidence that the pre-exercise meal GI influences performance. The heterogeneity of the studies precludes further conclusions.
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Current evidence suggests that low glycemic and low insulinemic properties of non-starch slowly digestible carbohydrates appear of particular interest in sports nutrition and cognitive performance.
“Therefore, current evidence suggests that low glycemic and low insulinemic properties of non-starch slowly digestible carbohydrates appear of a particular interest in sports nutrition and cognitive performance [55,56].”
From The 4R’s Framework of Nutritional Strategies for Post-Exercise Recovery: A Review with Emphasis on New Generation of Carbohydrates (2020) · cites this paper as [56]
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“Therefore, current evidence suggests that low glycemic and low insulinemic properties of non-starch slowly digestible carbohydrates appear of a particular interest in sports nutrition and cognitive performance [55,56].”
Background
- Authors
- Ferrugem, L., Martini, G., & de Souza, C.
- Affiliations
- Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (BR)
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (BR)
- ORCID
- Martini, Gabriela
- Venue
- International Journal of Medical Reviews
- Publisher
- Armenian Green Publishing Co.
- Published
- 2018-12-27
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 151-158
- ISSN
- 2345-525X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2935209470
- Cited by
- 2
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2024: 1 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 0.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- International Journal of Medical Reviews (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Muscle metabolism and nutrition
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Orthopedics and Sports Medicine › Sports Performance and Training
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Food composition and properties
- Keywords
- glycemic index, pre-exercise meal, athletic performance, carbohydrate intake, low glycemic index, blood lactate, substrate utilization, fatty acid oxidation, gastrointestinal symptoms, perception of effort, body composition
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