Intra-workout carbohydrate gel containing beetroot and cajá: effects on cardiorespiratory parameters and perceived effort in cyclists

Abstract

Introduction: During endurance exercises such as cycling, carbohydrate oxidation mainly occurs through muscle glycogen and blood glucose. Therefore, maintaining glucose levels and glycogen stores through supplementation can improve athletic performance. This study aims to assess the effects of a carbohydrate gel supplement containing beetroot and cajá on cardiorespiratory parameters and perceived exertion during indoor cycling sessions. Methodology: This randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical study used non-probabilistic convenience sampling and was approved by the Human Ethics Committee of the participating higher education institution. Two carbohydrate gels were tested: Gel A (20.00 g of carbohydrates and 147.69 mg of nitrates per 30 g) and Gel B (20.74 g of carbohydrates and 25.73 mg of nitrates per 30 g). Each gel was administered during two controlled 50-min indoor cycling sessions, with 30 g of gel provided every 20 min. Body composition, heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and perceived effort (PE) were assessed before and after each session. Data were analyzed at a 5% significance level. Results: Ten male cyclists, with a mean age of 39.50 ± 11.42 years, participated in the study. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 27.57 ± 6.04 (classified as overweight), and the mean body fat percentage was 27.14 ± 7.80%. A statistically significant difference in HR was observed before and after session 1 (p = 0.0001) and session 2 (p = 0.002). Only in session 2, systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p = 0.012) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (p = 0.048) showed a significant decrease. There were no statistically significant differences between Gel A (standard) and Gel B (developed) in terms of PE, HR, and BP values before and after both sessions. Additionally, no differences were found between the two gels regarding maximum and average HR in either workout session. Conclusion: Both carbohydrate gels used in this study showed similar effects on the evaluated parameters, indicating comparable efficacy in terms of cardiorespiratory response and perceived effort among cyclists.