Volume 6, Spring 2008 - Saddleback College

Fall 2007 Biology 3A Abstracts
enhancing the release of insulin which is known to
facilitate in the uptake of glucose into skeletal muscles.
The CHO-PRO also resulted in a longer time to
exhaustion when compared to the PRO drink. (Niles et
al., 2001)
The four drinks tested in this experiment
were: water, Gatorade, Accelerade and Cytomax.
Although each drink (other then water) contains similar
ingredients focused on energy and endurance, the ratios
differ whether it been a stronger protein level or a
higher amount of carbohydrates. The first liquid tested
was water, which contains no carbohydrates and no
proteins. The next liquid is Original Gatorade, which
contains 14g of carbohydrates per serving (8 fl oz.) and
no proteins. Accelerade is the third liquid which has
15g of carbohydrates per serving (8 fl oz) and 4g of
protein per serving. The last liquid is Cytomax which
has 22g of carbohydrates per serving (8 fl oz) and no
proteins. 4 Cyclists were tested in this experiment, each
drinking all four liquids during four separate cycling
sessions. Their distance traveled, ounces of liquid
consumed and exertion level, were recorded every 30
minutes for 2 hours. The purpose of this study was to
test the different liquids against each other to determine
whether protein does increase performance and
endurance levels during long term, strenuous exercise.
Based on previous studies, it was expected that the
protein-carbohydrate solution would result in the best
performance and lowest exertion levels.
Procedures and Materials
This experiment consisted of 4 male cyclists.
The participants exercised on a daily basis and were in
good athletic shape. Each cyclist used their own bikes
for the four separate endurance tests and they were
provided the four different liquids. They were given
two 16 ounce water bottles, two 20 ounce original
Gatorade bottles, two 20 ounce Accelerade bottles and
two 20 ounce Cytomax bottles. Four index cards were
printed out for the participants to record their
information (Figure 1). After each 30 minute segment
of exercise, the participants were asked to record the
distance they traveled, the amount of liquid they drank
and their level of energy based on a weak, moderate,
strong level. Due to certain restrictions and time
delays, the participants were not all tested on the same
days. The tests were performed over a month time
period. An ANOVA was used to run the statistical
analysis for average distance traveled and average
ounces of liquid consumed, using a p value of p< 0.05.
Results
Each liquid was tested for all four athletes
using a single-factor ANOVA. The distance traveled
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Saddleback Journal of Biology
Spring 2008
was tested to see if there were any significant
differences in mileage between each sports drink over
the period of two hours (30 minute increments). The
water sample for distance traveled resulted in a P value
of P = .9199. Gatorade was tested next (P = .9977),
followed by Accelerade (P = .9989) and Cytomax (P =
.9878). The mean scores for distance traveled are
shown in figure in table 1. Figure 2 shows the
comparison of distance traveled for all four liquids
during the 30 minute time segments, each notch
representing a mean score. After the distance traveled
was tested, I ran an ANOVA for the amount of liquid
consumed over the 2 hour time period for each 30
minute segment. The water data resulted in (P = .6444),
followed by Gatorade (P = .8066), Accelerade (P =
.9555) and finally Cytomax (P = .7461). The mean
scores for ounces consumed are shown in table 2.
Figure 3 is a graph showing the ounces consumed for
each liquid in 30 minute segments. Along with the data
on distance traveled and ounces consumed, data was
also recorded for exertion levels throughout the ride.
Based on 3 levels of exertion (weak, moderate and
strong) water overall produced the weakest exertion
levels compared to the other 3 sports drink liquids.
When comparing the exertion of the sports drinks,
Cytomax was the overall strongest level of exertion.
Participants felt strongest while drinking Cytomax
(Carbohydrate only) over the 2 hour cycling time.
30
Min
1 1/2
Hr
1 Hr
2 Hr
(Liquid)
Distance (mi)
Oz.
consumed
Energy Level
(1) Weak
(2) Moderate
(3) Strong
Table 1. Sample data card used during each liquid
trail
Distance (miles)
9.5
9
8.5
8
7.5
7
6.5
Average Distance Traveled
30 60 90 120
Time (minutes)
Water
Gatorade
Accelerade
Cytomax