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. 2023 Aug 10:14:1183460.
doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1183460. eCollection 2023.

Effects of carbohydrate drinks ingestion on executive function in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Jingye Yang  1   2   3 , Qi Han  1   2   3 , Qi Liu  1   2   3 , Tieying Li  2   3 , Yongcong Shao  4 , Xuemei Sui  5 , Qirong Wang  2   3
Affiliations

Effects of carbohydrate drinks ingestion on executive function in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Jingye Yang et al. Front Psychol. .

Abstract

Background: Carbohydrates are often used as boosters for endurance and high-intensity exercise. However, it is unclear whether carbohydrate drinks intake before or during exercise can affect specific domains of cognitive function, such as Executive Function (EF).

Methods: Following the guidance of PRISMA 2020, we searched six major databases including PubMed, WOS, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane, Embase, and Scopus. Outcomes were presented in the form of Reaction Time (RT), Accuracy (ACC), and Scores (Score) for performing EF tests. Effect sizes were calculated from the test results of EF and expressed as standardized mean differences (SMDs). After analyzing the overall results, we performed subgroup analyses based on the athletes' program characteristics.

Results: After retrieving a total of 5,355 articles, ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified and included in this review. The overall results showed that the intake of carbohydrate drinks before or during exercise did not have a significant effect on the reduction of EF after exercise (ACC (-0.05 [-0.27, 0.18]); RT (-0.18 [-0.45, 0.09]); Score (0.24 [-0.20, 0.68])). The subgroup analyses based on open skill sports and close skill sports also showed invalid results, but the results of RT ended up with different preference (ACC of open skill sports athletes (-0.10 [-0.34, 0.14]); RT of open skill athletes (-0.27 [-0.60, 0.07]); RT of close skill athletes (0.29 [-0.24, 0.82])).

Conclusion: The intake of 6-12% of single or mixed carbohydrates before or during exercise was not significantly effective in reducing the decline in EF after exercise. Our findings may have been influenced by the type of intervention, dose, mode of administration, or individual variability of the included subjects.

Keywords: athletes; carbohydrates; cognition; executive function; exercise; sugars.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of study selection according to the PRISMA 2020 statement.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk of bias of crossover trails.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Risk of bias of parallel trail.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Risk of bias graph of crossover trails.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Risk of bias graph of the parallel trail.
Figure 6
Figure 6
A meta-analysis of ACC of all studies.
Figure 7
Figure 7
A meta-analysis of RT of all studies.
Figure 8
Figure 8
A meta-analysis of the score of all studies.
Figure 9
Figure 9
A meta-analysis of ACC of open skill sports athletes.
Figure 10
Figure 10
A meta-analysis of RT of open vs. closed skill sports athletes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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