Personalised carbohydrate testing available for endurance athletes
Lab-based test called fuelsync® run by globally leading sports nutritionists provides optimal carbohydrate fuelling for endurance performance
World-leading sports nutritionists have launched fuelsync®, a new test which provides evidence-led understanding of an individual’s optimum carbohydrate intake.
The fuelsync® test uses the proven gold-standard method and research-grade equipment for measuring the amount of carbohydrates that athletes can actually use in during exercise.
Launched by Professor Gareth Wallis from the University of Birmingham, fuelsync® shows exactly how much carbohydrate taken during exercise is converted into usable energy. Validated in a peer reviewed paper published in Performance Nutrition, the fuelsync® test demonstrates how athletes can have an optimum amount of glucose intake that is up to 25% more or less than current academic-led guidelines.
The results will help serious athletes optimise their fuelling strategies to avoid taking on too few carbs and risk running out of energy, or too many carbs leading to gastric distress.
fuelsync® will take the guesswork out of optimum fuelling strategies for endurance athletes under the supervision of sports nutritionists
Professor Gareth Wallis from the University of Birmingham and creator of fuelsync® said: “Taking on the right amount and type of carbohydrate is critically important for endurance sport. Too little reduces performance, while too much causes cramping or bloating, reducing athletic performance and confidence during training and events.
“Our studies found that every individual has a unique metabolic system to use carbohydrates they ingest to power exercise performance. Athletes who consistently strive for high fuelling during exercise may be triggering gastrointestinal issues, and those who under-fuel could miss out on marginal performance gains.
“fuelsync® will take the guesswork out of optimum fuelling strategies for endurance athletes under the supervision of sports nutritionists who have worked with elite athletes including top cyclists, triathletes and runners.”
What are the current guidelines for carbohydrate intake?
The current academic-led guidelines for carbohydrate dosing have been discussed for more than 20 years, and the IOC Consensus was published in 2011. These guidelines recommend athletes to carbohydrate ‘dose’ during exercise at typically 30–60 g of glucose-based carbohydrate per hour for exercise lasting between 1 and 2.5 hours, and up to 90 g of glucose and fructose carbohydrate mix per hour for over 2.5 hours.
The most scientific method for tracking how much carbohydrate is burned as fuel during exercise uses a non-radioactive form of carbon-13. It is slightly heavier than carbon-12 and can be incorporated into a glucose drink which is taken during exercise. If the muscles burn this C-13 enriched glucose, the CO2 produced by the body will contain C-13. Capturing breath during exercise and analysing the ratio of C-13 to C12 provides an accurate measure of how much of the ingested carbohydrate is used as fuel.
Professor Gareth Wallis, who is Professor in Exercise Metabolism and Nutrition at Birmingham, teamed up Dr Tim Podlogar from the University of Exeter to find out if an accurate measurement for a personalised carbohydrate fuelling strategy could be generated from a single laboratory visit. Their proof-of-concept study, published last year, showed that it could.
The study measured how effectively the body uses ingested (exogenous) carbohydrates during exercise. The conditions for all athletes in the study were the same, and each athlete was given a high level dose of 90 g carbohydrate per hour, but the results showed that while some athletes were using 49 g carbohydrate per hour, others were using 81g per hour.
The fuelsync® test uses identical equipment and the same protocols as the original scientific study. Athletes cycle or run at a sustained, moderate intensity for two and a half hours, consuming a glucose drink every 15 minutes. The test is fully supervised, giving complete quality control over the process. Breath samples are collected throughout and analysed at Birmingham’s onsite facilities.
When this analysis is completed, members of the research team from fuelsync® produce a report with actionable recommendations based on the range of carbohydrate formulations found in commercially available sports nutrition products. The report is followed up with a personal consultation to help athletes translate the personalised fuelling recommendations into practical guidance to support their performance goals.
Notes for editors
Notes for editors
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About the University of Birmingham
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About fuelsync®
fuelsync® provides gold standard personalised carbohydrate testing for peak performance. It is run from laboratories at the University of Birmingham’s School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences, and partner institutions.