Energy drinks are soft drinks advertised as boosting energy and usually do not emphasize energy derived from the calories they contain but rather through a choice of caffeine, vitamins, and herbal supplements the manufacturer has combined. Experts from the University of Edinburgh identify that consuming energy drinks during team sports may help young individuals perform better.
Scientists examined adolescents aged between 12 and 14 years and revealed that they can play for longer in team games when they gulp down an isotonic sports drink before and during games. Experts evaluated the performance of 15 youth during exercise mainly conducted to trigger the physical demands of team games like football, rugby and hockey.
Scientists observed that sports drinks assist young people continue high intensity, stop-start activity for around 24 percent longer as compared to players who drank a non-carbohydrate placebo solution. The analysis was conducted because apparently there is an evidence of young people consuming energy drinks during team games, thereby stimulating scientists to examine their impact.
Experts observed that drinking a six percent carbohydrate electrolyte solution enhanced stamina but did not make young people run with improved speed during intermittent exercise in team sports. The solution which contains carbohydrate, sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium enhances hydration restricts dehydration and offers a supply of energy to the body, thereby contributing to improved endurance capacity.
“The importance of hydration to improve performance during exercise for adults is well known. This research helps us further understand how adolescents respond to hydration and energy supply during exercise. The consumption of a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution was found to significantly enhance endurance capacity during simulated games play, and this could contribute to improved performance in adolescents,” remarked Dr John Sproule Head of the Institute of Sport, Physical Education and Health Sciences of the University of Edinburgh’s Moray House School of Education.
The findings are anticipated to help examine the essence of regular hydration and energy intake with a carbohydrate-electrolyte solution during games to swap fluids and provide energy in adolescent players. This analysis claims to be the first to evaluate the effect of a six percent carbohydrate-electrolyte solution which may be similar to the make-up of an isotonic sports drink, on the performance of young people in team games.
These findings were published in the European Journal of Applied Physiology.