The Effects of Sports Drinks During High-Intensity Exercise on the Carbohydrate Oxidation Rate Among Athletes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• Published in: Frontiers in physiology Vol. 11; p. 574172
• Main Authors: Li, Xudong, Wang, Wanxia, Guo, Rui, Wang, Anqi, Wei, Chaojun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 11-12-2020
• Subjects: athletes; dietary carbohydrates; energy drinks; lipids; meta-analysis; oxidation; Physiology; dietary carbohydrates; meta-analysis; oxidation; lipids; athletes; energy drinks
• ISSN: 1664-042X; 1664-042X
• DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.574172

This study examines the effects of sports drinks ingestion during high-intensity exercise for carbohydrate oxidation rate (CHO-O) among athletes.
PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library were searched for available papers published up to November 2019. The primary outcome is the carbohydrate oxidation rate (CHO-O), and the secondary outcome is the fat oxidation rate (Fat-O). Statistical heterogeneity among the included studies was evaluated using Cochran's Q test and the I
index. The random-effects model was used for all analyses, regardless of the I
index.
Five studies are included, with a total of 58 participants (range, 8-14/study). All five studies are randomized crossover trials. Compared to the control beverages, sports drinks have no impact on the CHO-O of athletes [weighted mean difference (WMD) = 0.29; 95% CI, -0.06 to 0.65,
= 0.106; I
= 97.4%,
< 0.001] and on the Fat-O of athletes (WMD = -0.074; 95% CI, -0.19 to 0.06,
= 0.297; I
= 97.5%,
< 0.001). Carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions increase CHO-O (WMD = 0.47; 95% CI, 0.08-0.87,
= 0.020; I
= 97.8%,
< 0.001) but not Fat-O (WMD = -0.14; 95% CI, -0.31 to 0.03,
= 0.103; I
= 98.2%,
< 0.001). Caffeine has a borderline effect on Fat-O (WMD = 0.05; 95% CI, 0.00-0.10,
= 0.050).
Compared with the control beverages, sports drinks show no significant improvement in CHO-O and Fat-O in athletes. Carbohydrate-electrolyte solutions increase CHO-O in athletes but not Fat-O.