Effect of postexercise carbohydrate supplementation on muscle glycogen repletion in trained sled dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of immediate postexercise carbohydrate supplementation on muscle glycogen (MG) repletion during the first 4 hours of recovery in sled dogs.


METHODS
24 Alaskan Huskies.


METHODS
Dogs were assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups, and a muscle biopsy specimen was obtained 1 hour before and immediately (group A) or 4 hours (groups B and C) after a 30-km run. Immediately after exercise, dogs in group A and group C were given water; dogs in group B were given a glucose polymer solution (1.5 g/kg of body weight) in water.


RESULTS
At 4 hours after exercise, MG concentration was significantly greater in group-B than in group-C dogs; the value in group-C dogs was not different from the value in group-A dogs immediately after exercise. Assuming similar rates of glycogen depletion between treatment groups, during the first 4 hours of recovery, group-B dogs replaced 49% of the glycogen used during exercise. Plasma glucose concentration was significantly greater in group-B than in group-A and group-C dogs at 100 minutes after exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
Immediate postexercise carbohydrate supplementation in sled dogs leads to increased glucose concentration, which in turn promotes more rapid rate of MG repletion in the first 4 hours of recovery than is observed in dogs not given supplements.


CONCLUSIONS
For dogs running in multiple heats on a single day or over several consecutive days, immediate postexercise carbohydrate supplementation may promote more rapid and complete recovery between bouts of exercise.
Reynolds
A J
AJ
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Carey
D P
DP
Reinhart
G A
GA
Swenson
R A
RA
Kallfelz
F A
FA
D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004285:Dogs / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006651:Histocytochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D010805:Physical Conditioning, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D006003:Glycogen; D005947:Glucose