Saddleback Journal of Biology - Saddleback College

Fall 2009 Biology 3B Paper
up for 15 minutes, where it underwent routine
diagnostic checks. The SBx unit was connected to the
PCa receiver and hooked up appropriately to carry out
gas and volume calibrations before any data was
collected. After passing the calibration tests, the SBx
unit was put into the backpack harness and connected
to the DEx unit. Each individual was given 20 minutes
to drink 32 ounces of either substance, then was
outfitted with the Oxycon unit. Each wore the unit
strapped to their back, with the SPO2 sensor clipped to
their left ear, polar belt around their chest to measure
heart rate, and the mask securely attached to their face.
Each participant then rode a standard 18 speed street
bicycle, set on speed 10, while their heart rate, VO2,
ride time, VCO2 and other data was collected. Each
test subject rode at a comfortable speed of 5 to 8 mph
for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, each individual
increased their speed by 1-2 mph and continued to do
this for the following 5 minutes. When reaching 10
minutes, each subject was instructed to bike at the peek
of their capabilities for as long as possible in order to
accurately compare their stamina and maximum
respiratory rates. Each test subject repeated this
process twice, once while drinking water, and once
while drinking Gatorade with at least 2 hours of rest in
between tests.
Data were analyzed using Microsoft Office
Excel and a paired two-tailed t-test statistical analysis
was used. The test was run for both VO2max and
sprint time between water and Gatorade. Neither test
produced significantly different results with P>0.05.
All data was expressed as a mean±SEM.
Results
VO2max was recorded for each test subject.
It was measured for both water (2588.2270.2,
mean±SEM) and Gatorade (2639.6351.4,
mean±SEM) hydration. No significant difference
(p=0.911, paired two-tailed t-test) was found between
the measure of VO2max between the water and
Gatorade test runs (Figure 1).
In addition, the time that each subject was
able to maintain peak exercise was recorded. The
sprint time, in which subjects underwent maximal
exercise, was compared between the water (21.67.6,
mean±SEM) and Gatorade (31.85.4, mean±SEM)
test runs. No significant difference (p=0.311, paired
two-tailed t-test) was established in sprint time between
test subjects when drinking water versus Gatorade
before incremental exercise (Figure 2).
Maximum Volume of Oygen (ml/kg/min)
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Water
1
Gatorade
Figure 1. Bar graph displaying the meanSEM for the difference of VO2max between water and Gatorade exercise
runs (p=0.911, paired two-tailed t-test). Water produced a value of 2588.2270.2, while Gatorade was recorded at
2639.6351.4.
104
Saddleback Journal of Biology
Spring 2010