Graduation Year

2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.A.

Degree Granting Department

Physical Education and Exercise Science

Major Professor

William Campbell, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Candi Ashley, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Candi Ashley, Ph.D.

Keywords

waxy maize, Vitargo®, performance, maltodextrin, dextrose

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of different types of carbohydrates on blood glucose response in collegiate soccer athletes at rest. This will help to determine the effectiveness of a carbohydrate supplement in providing sustained energy and maintained performance if ingested prior to a soccer match. METHODS: In a cross-over design, 10 female collegiate soccer players (n= 10, age 20.10 ± .99 years, height 65.55 ± 2.77 inches, weight 64.12 ± 8.36 kilograms) from the University of South Florida reported to the laboratory on five separate occasions after an overnight fast. Once a baseline blood glucose measurement was obtained, subjects ingested one of four different carbohydrate beverages (dextrose, maltodextrin, Vitargo®, and waxy maize) and a control (water). Each subject consumed 1 gram of carbohydrate per kilogram body weight in a 7% solution. Order of carbohydrate and control supplements was randomly assigned for each participant. After the subject ingested one of the test beverages blood glucose measurements were taken at the 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and 180 minute time points (a total of three hours). The same procedures took place during each subject's visit. A series of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed using SPSS 19 to determine differences in the blood glucose response at each time point between the carbohydrate supplements. RESULTS: No significant difference existed between treatments for blood glucose levels at baseline. At 30, 45, and 60 minutes, blood glucose concentrations following dextrose, maltodextrin, and Vitargo® ingestion were significantly higher as compared to the placebo ingestion. No significant difference was observed between waxy maize and placebo at these time points. At ninety minutes the blood glucose concentrations for dextrose and Vitargo® were significantly higher than placebo, and at 120 minutes only Vitargo® was significantly higher than the placebo. Finally, at 180 minutes, the blood glucose concentration for waxy maize was significantly higher than all other treatments. CONCLUSION: The main finding of this study was that waxy maize does not observe a sharp increase in blood glucose response following ingestion but maintains an elevated blood glucose concentration over an extended period of time. All other treatments (maltodextrin, dextrose, and Vitargo®) resulted in a significant rise in blood glucose within the first thirty minutes following ingestion.

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