Compressed food with added functional oligopeptides improves performance during military endurance training

Oligosaccharide or oligopeptide supplementation may have a significant impact on endurance performance. This study evaluated the effects of adding maltooligosaccharides (MO) or soy oligopeptides (SO) to compressed food (CF) on the physical response of soldiers to daily military training.

Twelve soldiers were randomized to four diet groups: regular meals, CF, CFMO, and CFSO (crossover design). They participated in exercise tests including 90 minutes running at 55-65% VO2max and exhaustive running. Heart rates, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and blood and urine samples were collected during exercise and recovery.

The recovery heart rates were significantly lower with the CFMO diet compared with the other diets. Compared with all other diets, blood glucose levels were higher, post-exercise blood lactate levels were lower, and lactate clearance during recovery was higher with the CFMO diet, followed by the CFSO diet. Post-exercise levels of erythrocytes and hematocrit were significantly higher with the CFSO diet. Post-exercise urine specific gravity was lower with the CFMO diet and urine pH was decreased with the CFSO diet. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and uric acid (UA) were significantly higher with the CFSO diet than with the other diets. There was no significant difference in skeletal and cardiac muscle injury indices and RPE among diets.

CFMO led to better heart rate recovery, improved and maintained blood glucose and increased removal of blood lactate. CFSO accelerated removal of blood lactate during recovery, maintained oxygen supply, and increased fluid retention.