The results of research presented today at the annual Experimental Biology meetings in San Diego, California may sweeten the appeal of honey to athletes. "During the past three decades, carbohydrate 'sports gels' have become a popular means of providing energy to athletes," said Dr. Richard Kreider of the University of Memphis Exercise and Sport Nutrition Laboratory, and the lead investigator of the study. "We found honey to be one of the most effective forms of carbohydrate gels to ingest just prior to exercise. This could translate into greater endurance during a workout or a race." As part of a three-phase clinical trial, honey is being studied against other forms of carbohydrate gels when ingested just prior to or during exercise.

The trials are sponsored by the National Honey Board, which develops research and consumer information programs to increase the demand for honey, and are being performed in collaboration with IMAGINutrition® of Aptos, CA. "Honey appears to be a carbohydrate source that is relatively mild in its effects upon blood sugar compared to other carbohydrate sources," added Dr. Kreider. The lower "glycemic index" profile of honey is an important consideration for sports enthusiasts because when ingested just prior to exercise, higher glycemic index carbohydrates (like dextrose, maltodextrin or sucrose) may promote fatigue more quickly due to the corresponding release of insulin and faster muscle glycogen (stored carbohydrate source) utilization."

In the first phase of these trials, blood glucose, insulin concentration, glycemic index and the insulin response index were determined in seventy-one study subjects. After an eight-hour fast, the subjects were given one of seven gel packets. The packets contained either dextrose, sucrose, fructose, maltodextrin, honey, PowerGel (a commercially available gel product) or a similarly flavored placebo. "One of the issues during exercise is the timing of carbohydrate ingestion j
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Contact: Mary Ann Johnson
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Zuckerman Fernandes & Partners
16-Apr-2000