The Effect of Alginate Encapsulated Plant-Based Carbohydrate and Protein Supplementation on Recovery and Subsequent Performance in Athletes

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a novel alginate-encapsulated carbohydrate-protein (CHO-PRO ratio 2:1) supplement (ALG) on cycling performance. The ALG, designed to control the release of nutrients, was compared to an isocaloric carbohydrate-only control (CON). Alginate encapsulation of CHOs has the potential to reduce the risk of carious lesions.

Methods: In a randomised cross-over clinical trial, 14 men completed a preliminary test over 2 experimental days separated by ~6 days. An experimental day consisted of an exercise bout (EX1) of cycling until exhaustion at W_~73%, followed by 5 h of recovery and a subsequent time-to-exhaustion (TTE) performance test at W_~65%. Subjects ingested either ALG (0.8 g CHO/kg/hr + 0.4 g PRO/kg/hr) or CON (1.2 g CHO/kg/hr) during the first 2 h of recovery.

Results: Participants cycled on average 75.2 ± 5.9 min during EX1. Levels of plasma branched-chain amino acids decreased significantly after EX1, and increased significantly with the intake of ALG during the recovery period. During recovery, a significantly higher plasma insulin and glucose response was observed after intake of CON compared to ALG. Intake of ALG increased plasma glucagon, free fatty acids, and glycerol significantly. No differences were found in the TTE between the supplements (p = 0.13) nor in the pH of the subjects' saliva.

Conclusions: During the ALG supplement, plasma amino acids remained elevated during the recovery. Despite the 1/3 less CHO intake with ALG compared to CON, the TTE performance was similar after intake of either supplement.

Keywords: alginate encapsulation; athletic performance; carbohydrate; hydrogels; nutrition supplement; oral health; plant-based; protein; sports nutrition; time-to-exhaustion.

Figure 1

Overview of the experimental design.

Figure 2

TTE performance test after 5 h of recovery. Data are presented as their mean ± SEM. N = 14 subjects.

Figure 3

Time-dependent changes in the plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, glucagon, free fatty acids, glycerol, ammonia, and creatine kinase throughout the clinical trial and area under the curve during the recovery period for ALG and CON. Levels of (A) glucose; (B) insulin; (C) glucagon; (D) free fatty acids; (E) glycerol; (F) ammonia (NH3); and (G) creatine kinase are given. Data are presented as their mean ± SEM. ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; **** p < 0.0001; ns: not significant.

Figure 3

Time-dependent changes in the plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, glucagon, free fatty acids, glycerol, ammonia, and creatine kinase throughout the clinical trial and area under the curve during the recovery period for ALG and CON. Levels of (A) glucose; (B) insulin; (C) glucagon; (D) free fatty acids; (E) glycerol; (F) ammonia (NH3); and (G) creatine kinase are given. Data are presented as their mean ± SEM. ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; **** p < 0.0001; ns: not significant.

Figure 3

Time-dependent changes in the plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, glucagon, free fatty acids, glycerol, ammonia, and creatine kinase throughout the clinical trial and area under the curve during the recovery period for ALG and CON. Levels of (A) glucose; (B) insulin; (C) glucagon; (D) free fatty acids; (E) glycerol; (F) ammonia (NH3); and (G) creatine kinase are given. Data are presented as their mean ± SEM. ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; **** p < 0.0001; ns: not significant.

Figure 4

Plasma essential amino acid concentrations during the clinical trial and areas under the curve during the recovery period for ALG and CON supplements. The AAs measured were (A) leucine; (B) isoleucine; (C) valine; (D) phenylalanine (E); tryptophan; (F) methionine; (G) threonine; (H) histidine; (I) lysine. ALG: time points = 8, CON: time points = 4. Data are presented as their mean ± SEM. N = seven subjects. * p ≤ 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; ns: not significant.

Figure 4

Plasma essential amino acid concentrations during the clinical trial and areas under the curve during the recovery period for ALG and CON supplements. The AAs measured were (A) leucine; (B) isoleucine; (C) valine; (D) phenylalanine (E); tryptophan; (F) methionine; (G) threonine; (H) histidine; (I) lysine. ALG: time points = 8, CON: time points = 4. Data are presented as their mean ± SEM. N = seven subjects. * p ≤ 0.05; ** p < 0.01; *** p < 0.001; ns: not significant.

Figure 5

Urine (A) carbamide and (B) creatinine levels during the clinical trial for ALG vs. CON. Data are presented as their mean ± SEM. *: p ≤ 0.05.

Figure 6

Saliva pH levels during the clinical trial. Data are presented as their mean ± SEM.