Winter 2000 Issue — VEROFIT-Regeneration

Karin Schiess, Rita Karle-Diener and Dr Peter C. Bohni

Karin Schiess and Dr Peter C Bohni are members of the Research & Development Department of the Swiss MilkCompany Ltd., Rita Karie-Diener is a member of the nutrition advisory board of VEROFIT Ltd.

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During high-performance sporting activities, depletion of the body's carbohydrate reserves, dehydration and an increased body temperature cause fatigue. While many drinks on the market provide nutrients to support the athlete during the high performance, not many products exist that recharge the glycogen reserves and facilitate the rapid regeneration of the athletes organism after the physical stress.

What are the requirements of an athlete's body after a heavy long-time performance?

The Swiss Milk Company Ltd. and Verofit Ltd. have in a joint effort developed VEROFIT-REGENERATION, a new drink that aims at an optimal regeneration of the muscle tissue as well as a replenishment of the athlete's glycogen stores after his/her steady and hard exercise. The ambitious goal has been to succeed in providing the correct diet immediately after exercise to support complete regeneration of the athletes tissues and fast recovery of glycogen stores. A result that would allow a top performance day-after-day, a requirement that has to be met by many professional high performance athletes.

VEROFIT Regeneration: Nutrition, following activity

To facilitate rapid regeneration, carbohydrates have to be assimilated directly following the activity. To accelerate the replenishment of the muscle glycogen stores, a rapidly absorbable carbohydrate should be consumed immediately. In combination with an easily digestible protein, the glycogen resynthesis can be improved. If a biologically high nutritious protein is chosen, the body also receives the necessary elements for the regeneration of the strained and partially ruptured muscular tissue.

One portion of VEROFIT-REGENERATION provides rapidly absorbable carbohydrates, easily digestible proteins which can stimulate the replenishment of the glycogen stores, sodium in ideal quantities as well as all other minerals, vitamins and trace elements.

Carbohydrates

An important aspect of post-performance nutrition is the recuperation phase. During training or competition periods that take place in rapid succession, recuperation should occur as quickly as possible. Glycogen stores (muscle, liver, etc.) and the fluid balance must be restored.

The speed with which glycogen can be synthesised depends on the amount of and type of carbohydrate ingested, as well as in the time stretch after the performance. The first few hours following activity are the best time, as replenishment takes place most rapidly. in the first hour after heavy exercise, about 8% of the glucose storage can be loaded, in the following hours only about 5% per hour can be replenished. Of a very short recuperation period is desired, then the carbohydrate intake should occur immediately after the activity as stopped. In the first 2 hours following activity, 100g carbohydrate are recommended; thereafter, 25g for each consecutive hour. To further improve the glycogen synthesis, an easily digested protein should be added to the carbohydrate in the first few hours. Calculating a sleeping period into the recuperation phase (e.g. 8 hours x 25g carbohydrate = 200g carbohydrate), the evening meal and a late snack should include an appropriate amount of carbohydrates. Within 24 hours, then, it is recommended that a total quantity of 10g carbohydrate per kilo body weight should be ingested. One portion of VEROFIT-REGENERATION provides 50g of carbohydrates which yield 50% of the required quantity within the first 2 hours. The type of carbohydrate is important in respect to the ability and velocity of the increase in blood glucose. In order to optimally recharge the glycogen stores, easily digestible and rapidly absorbable carbohydrates are especially to be recommended. The speed at which certain carbohydrates can be absorbed is reflected by the "glycaemic index" (see Table 1). The glycaemic index" is a functional classification of carbohydrates, based on their ability to increase the blood glucose levels. It specifically reflects the absorption and the rate of entry of glucose into the bloodstream after passage across the intestinal tissue. Food with identical carbohydrate levels can cause surprisingly varying increases in the blood sugar levels. Food with medium to high glycaemic indices are absorbed quickly (the converted glycogen is discernible in the blood within a very short period of time), which results in a rapidly increasing glucose level in the blood. Food with a low "glycaemic index" takes longer to be absorbed and has a slower glycogen synthesis as a result. If a rapid recuperation is desired, the carbohydrates ingested directly following activity should therefore be taken from food with a high "glycaemic index". Thereafter, food with a main proportion of the carbohydrate carriers from the medium to high glycaemic indices should be ingested.

As shown in Table 1, with saccharose and maltodextrine,VEROFIT-Regeneration provides carbohydrate sources with a high "glycaemic index".

Proteins

The proteins are a balanced mix of skim milk powder and whey proteins. The mix contains all essential and non-essential amino acids.

Minerals/Trace elements/Vitamins

The rapidity with which the liquid balance can be ensured is dependent on the amount and the composition of the fluid. Recent studies have shown that water retention following activity lies at only 50% — if the liquid has a low sodium content. This is the case with tap or mineral water, as well as fruit juices. An addition of 600 to 1200mg of sodium to the beverage drunk following activity improves water retention and the re­establishment of fluid levels. Sodium in combination with all the other minerals (Ca, P. Mg, K, Cl, Fe, Zn, Mn), trace elements (such as Cr, Oc, Mb, I, Cu and F) and vitamins encourages regeneration and regulates the proper uptake of the micronutrients.

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