Is Carbohydrate Mouth Rinsing A Novel Approach to Maintain Exercise Performance during Ramadan Fasting?

Document Type : Short Communication

Authors

1 Lifestyle Science Cluster, Advanced Medical & Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia

2 Sports Science Centre, Singapore Sports Institute, Singapore Sports Council, Singapore

Abstract

About a decade ago, carbohydrate mouth rinsing was shown to enhance endurance exercise performance. This improvement was more pronounced in a fasted compared to a fed state, suggesting that the ergogenic effect of carbohydrate mouth rinse is dependent on endogenous carbohydrate storage. Hence, indirectly highlights the potential use of carbohydrate mouth rinse as a potential strategy to mitigate the adverse effects of exercise during Ramadan fasting. To date, only one study has been carried out to explore the potential benefit of carbohydrate mouth rinse on exercise performance during Ramadan fasting. This single observation showed that a 10-km time trial performance was enhanced when performing mouth rinsing with either a carbohydrate or a placebo solution as compared with not performing mouth rinsing. While one study had acknowledged that the practice of mouth rinsing do have a positive effect on exercise performance during Ramadan fasting, future studies is warranted in order to have a better understanding on the underlying mechanisms associated with carbohydrate mouth rinsing during Ramadan fasting.

Keywords


  1. Chaouachi A, Leiper JB,  Chtourou H, Aziz AR, Chamari K. The effects of Ramadan intermittent fasting on athletic performance: Recommendations for the maintenance of physical fitness. J. Sports Sci. 2012; 30(S1): S53–S73
  2. Dalmit NF, Lim VTW, Che Muhamed AM, Chaouachi A, Chamari K, Singh R, Chia MYH, Aziz AR. (Jan 2014). Exercise responses and training during daytime fasting in the month of Ramadan and its impact on training-induced adaptations. In: Chtourou H, editor. “Effects of Ramadan fasting on health and athletic performance”, Publisher: OMICS Group eBook, OMICS Group Incorporation, California, USA.
  3. Stannard SR, Thompson MW. The effect of participation in Ramadan on substrate selection during submaximal cycling exercise. J Sci Med Sport 
2008; 11: 510–17
  4. Kirkendall DT, Chaouachi A, Aziz AR, Chamari K. Strategies for maintaining fitness and performance during Ramadan. J. Sports Sci. 2012; 30:103-108
  5. Aziz AR, Chia MY, Low CY, Slater GJ, Png W, Teh KC. Conducting an acute intense interval exercise session during the Ramadan fasting month: what is the optimal time of the day? Chronobiol. Int. 2012; 29: 1139-1150.
  6. Burke L, and Maughan R. The Governor has a sweet tooth - Mouth sensing of nutrients to enhance sports performance. Eur. J. Sport Sci. 2015; 1: 29-40.
  7. Rollo I, Williams C. Effect of Mouth-Rinsing Carbohydrate Solutions on Endurance Performance. Sports Med. 2011; 41(6): 449-461
  8. Carter JM, Jeukendrup AE, Jones DA.The effect of carbohydrate mouth rinse on 1-h cycle time trial performance. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2004; 36: 2107–2111.
  9. Chambers ES, Bridge MW, Jones DA. Carbohydrate sensing in the human mouth: effects on exercise performance and brain activity. J. Physiol. 2009; 587(8): 1779–1794
  10. Fares EJ, Kayser B. Carbohydrate mouth rinse effects on exercise capacity in pre- and postprandial States. J. Nutr. Metab. 2011: 385962
  11. Lane SC, Bird SR, Burke LM, Hawley JA. Effect of a carbohydrate mouth rinse on simulated cycling time-trial performance commenced in a fed or fasted state. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 2013; 38(2): 134–139
  12. Rollo I, Cole M, Miller R, Williams C. Influence of mouth rinsing a carbohydrate solution on 1-h running performance. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2010; 42(4): 798–804
  13. Beelen M, Berghuis J, Bonaparte B, Ballak SB, Jeukendrup, AE, van Loon LJ. (2009). Carbohydrate mouth rinsing in the fed state: Lack of enhancement of time-trial performance. Int. J. Sport Nutr. Exerc. Metab. 2009; 19: 400–409.
  14. Watson P, Nichols, D, Cordery P. Mouth rinsing with a carbohydrate solution does not influence cycle time trial performance in the heat. Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 2014; 39:1064–1069
  15. Che Muhamed AM, Mohamed NG, Ismail N, Aziz AR, Singh R. Mouth rinsing improves cycling endurance performance during Ramadan fasting in a hot humid environment Appl. Physiol. Nutr. Metab. 2014; 39: 458–464.