Potato Ingestion and Time-trial Performance

Exercise Performance Clinical Trial

Official title:

Ingestion of Potatoes as a Nutritional Strategy to Improve Cycling Time-trial Performance in Endurance Trained Cyclists

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03294642
• Other study ID #: 18104
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: September 29, 2017
• Est. completion date: September 29, 2019

Study information

• Verified date: September 2017
• Source: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This research study evaluates the feasibility and appropriateness of potatoes as an ergogenic aid in comparison to the currently promoted sports gels during a cycling challenge and time trial. Using a crossover design, trained cyclists will complete three separate cycling challenges and subsequent time trials in which they will consume either potatoes, commercially available sports gels, or water only.

Description:

The metabolic demands created by endurance activities, which include muscle and liver glycogen depletion as well as losses in body fluids and electrolytes, are significant limitations to the performance potential of the athlete. For this reason, a well-supported recommendation exists for such athletes to consume a carbohydrate formula, in particular, one containing electrolytes during their activity.

Currently, most commercially available exercise-nutrition products for use in endurance activities come at relatively high costs to the athlete. Moreover, the ingredients used within this market vary and could therefore hinder their effectiveness. For example, Fermentable Oligosaccharides Disaccharides Monosaccharides and Polyols (FODMAPs) potentially present in common sports foods (i.e. excess fructose) are known to alter gastrointestinal (GI) function in some individuals. Indeed, 25-70% of endurance athletes experience GI symptoms during exercise. Given the prevalence of exercise induced GI discomfort in this population, it is possible that GI symptoms limit the adherence to nutritional recommendations during exercise. Therefore identification of a targeted nutrition strategy that maximizes GI effectiveness and dietary adherence is warranted.

An alternative to the commercially available sports foods are whole foods. Specifically, white potatoes, which have a high GI index, indicates that their carbohydrate content is readily available. Additionally, potatoes naturally contain potassium, an important electrolyte. Because of these characteristics, potatoes provide the potential to be a low-cost alternative, and merit investigation. To this point, we know of no studies that have explored the effectiveness of white potatoes as an ergogenic aid. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine how capable potatoes are at off-setting the losses in muscle and liver glycogen and electrolytes compared to the current products available on the market, i.e. "sports gels."

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 12
• Est. completion date: September 29, 2019
• Est. primary completion date: September 29, 2019
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 20 Years to 40 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female

• =150 km/wk of cycling mileage

• =6 months of prior training history

• VO2peak values =45 ml/kg/min for females and =50 ml/kg/min for males

• Aged between 20-40 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Chronic Smoking or tobacco use

• Active cardiovascular disease

• Diabetes Mellitus or other metabolic disorders

• Liver kidney, or urinary disease

• Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic disorders (e.g., osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, tendinitis, gout, fibromyalgia, patellar tendinopathy, or chronic low back pain)

• Neuromuscular disorders

• hypertension

• Diagnosed GI tract diseases

• Heart Disease

• Bleeding or clotting disorders

• Neurological disease

• Epilepsy

• Respiratory disease

• Pregnancy

• Contraindications for exercise

• <150 km/wk of cycling mileage

• <6 months of prior training history

• VO2peak values <45 ml/kg/min for females and <50 ml/kg/min for males

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Exercise Performance

Intervention

Dietary Supplement:
• Potatoes
Pureed russet potatoes will be used as a carbohydrate supplement for participants during one of the three cycling challenges.
• Carbohydrate Gel
Commercially available PowerBar PowerGel will be used for the carbohydrate gel condition during one of the three cycling challenges.
• Water
Water will be used as a control during one of the three cycling challenges (participants will not receive any carbohydrate supplementation).

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Freer Hall	Urbana	Illinois

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign	Alliance for Potato Research and Education

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Time trial performance measured in minutes	Comparison of time trial performance times between potatoes and sports gel conditions to determine effectiveness of potatoes as an ergogenic aid.	1 year