Effect of oral sucrose shortly before exercise on work capacity in McArdle disease.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Oral sucrose (75 g) ingested 40 minutes before exercise improves exercise tolerance in McArdle disease.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether a lower dose of sucrose administered closer in time to exercise could have a similar beneficial effect on exercise capacity in patients with McArdle disease.

DESIGN:

Placebo-controlled crossover.

SETTING:

Neuromuscular Research Unit at the Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.

PATIENTS:

Six patients with biochemically and genetically diagnosed McArdle disease.

INTERVENTIONS:

On separate days, the patients were tested after ingestion of either 75 g of sucrose or a placebo 40 minutes before exercise, or 37 g of sucrose or a placebo 5 minutes before exercise. Patients were blinded to test substances.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Treatment effectiveness was assessed by monitoring heart rate and perceived exertion during exercise.

RESULTS:

Both sucrose treatments dramatically improved exercise tolerance, compared with the placebo. The low-dose, 5-minute sucrose trial had a more sustained effect on exercise capacity than the 40-minute trial. The more sustained effect was probably related to more continuous glucose uptake from the intestine and correspondingly higher circulating glucose levels later during exercise.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study shows that 37 g of sucrose ingested shortly before exercise has a marked and prolonged effect on exercise tolerance in patients with McArdle disease. This treatment is more convenient for the patients and saves more calories than the currently recommended sucrose treatment.

• Authors: Susanne Tvede Andersen, Ronald G Haller, John Vissing
• Journal: Archives of neurology (Arch Neurol) Vol. 65 Issue 6 Pg. 786-9 (Jun 2008) ISSN: 1538-3687 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18541798 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Sucrose

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Blood Glucose (metabolism)
• Cross-Over Studies
• Exercise (physiology)
• Exercise Test (methods)
• Exercise Tolerance (drug effects, physiology)
• Female
• Glycogen Storage Disease Type V (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Sucrose (administration & dosage)
• Work Capacity Evaluation