Glico Cluster Dextrin Highly Branched Cyclic Dextrin was found to reduce the natural stress factors associated with vigorous physical exercise.
 
Researchers in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study examined fluid samples before and after two duathlon trials from seven practiced male triathletes, average age, 29.7 years. The duathlon is a highly rigorous regime of running 5 kilometers, followed by cycling 40 km, and another run of 5 km. Participants were administered either a 5% Highly Branched Cyclic Dextrin (HBCD) based drink or a 5% glucose-based drink in quantities of 200 milliliters following the running phase, 1000 ml during the cycling phase, and another 200 ml following that.
 
At the metabolic level all physical exertion produces a classic stress reaction, with concentration of plasma noradrenaline, facilitator of the “fight-or-flight” response, increasing significantly. Cytokine concentration, including Interleukin (IL)-8, (IL)-10, and (IL)-12p40, all rise precipitously with vigorous exercise as well. One effect of this is a greater propensity toward inflammation, which accelerates fatigue and puts the body at greater risk of injury and illness.
 
Examination of post-race urinalyses found that the group that had ingested HBCD had lower concentrations of the full complement of stress-related cytokines, and that noradrenaline concentration had risen dramatically with the use of glucose-based drinks in comparison to HBCD. Parallel testing to measure the subjective endurance capacities of seasoned swimmers corroborated the results of these athletes’ pre- and post-race blood and urine biochemical analyses.
 
The full details of the study were published in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness.
 
For more information: www.glico.co.jp/en