Cardiovascular Recovery From Dynamic Exercise Is Delayed By Sucrose Ingestion

G. Gleim, FACSM, B. Glace, P. Zabetakis, FACSM, R. Chan*, M. Morales*, J.A. Nicholas.

NISMAT and Nephrology Sect., Lenox Hill Hospital, N.Y., N.Y.

Chronic feeding of disaccharides , especially sucrose, has been shown to produce hypertension in rats and acute feeding of sucrose has been shown to elevate heart rate and blood pressure in resting humans. Since beverages consumed by following exercise frequently contain sucrose, we examined the cardiovascular recovery from one hour of steady state exercise at 70% heart rate reserve when subjects either drank 1 liter of mineral water (W) or 1 liter water containing 200 gms sucrose (S) at the completion of exercise. The eight men and (aged 29 +/- 3 years), who were in good aerobic condition (VO2max 55.4 +/- 2.8 ml/kg/min), reported to the lab on two non-consecutive days separated by no more than two weeks. Following carefully monitored exercise on a bicycle ergometer they drank either W or S, with order alternated between subjects. Heart rate, blood pressure, and rate pressure product were measured at half hour intervals for two hours.

                     HEART RATE
TREAT     End Ex      .5 POST      1 POST      1.5 POST      2 POST
  S      144 +/- 3    69 +/- 3    69 +/- 2     67 +/- 2     65 +/- 3
  W      145 +/- 3    61 +/- 2#   59 +/- 2#    56 +/- 2#    55 +/- 3#
              SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE
  S      174 +/- 4   115 +/- 3   112 +/- 3    112 +/- 4    113 +/- 3
  W      178 +/- 4   105 +/- 3*  108 +/- 2*   106 +/- 2    106 +/- 2
          RATE PRESSURE PRODUCT(HRxSBP/100)
  S      251 +/- 6    79 +/- 3    78 +/- 3     75 +/- 3     73 +/- 3
  W      256 +/- 8    64 +/- 2#   64 +/- 2#    59 +/- 2#    59 +/- 2#
                      *P < .05, #P < .01

Mean arterial pressure was not different between treatments at any time interval. We conclude that sucrose ingestion delays the normal decline in heart rate and systolic blood pressure following steady state exercise. Rate pressure product, an index of myocardial oxygen demand, remains elevated as a consequence. Fluid containing large amounts of sucrose delays the cardiovascular recovery following exercise.

Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 23(4):s160, 1991.