How pre-game snacks affect the kids

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Stone Hearth News             
Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2013 Oct 2. [Epub ahead of print]

The Association Between Pre-Game Snacks and Exercise Intensity, and Stress and Fatigue in Children.
Sacheck JM, Rasmussen HM, Hall MM, Kafka T, Blumberg JB, Economos CD. Source: Friedman School, Tufts University, Boston, MA.

Abstract

To investigate the association between pre-game snacks varying in macronutrient content and exercise intensity, physiological stress, and fatigue in young soccer players.

 One hour prior to a 50-min soccer game, children (n=79; 9.1 ± 0.8 y) were randomly assigned to consume a raisin-, peanut butter-, or cereal-based snack.

Body mass index, blood glucose, and salivary measures of stress (cortisol and immunoglobulin A-IgA) were measured pre- and post-game.

 Exercise intensity was measured by accelerometry. Self-administered questionnaires were used to assess diet quality and fatigue. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Analysis of covariance was used to examine the relationship between pre-game snacks and biochemical outcomes.

 Post-game glucose and cortisol increased [12.9 ± 21.3 mg/dL (P<0.001) and 0.04 ± 0.10 μg/dL (P<0.05), respectively] and IgA decreased (-2.3 ± 9.6 μg/mL; P<0.001) from pre-game values.

The pre-game snack was not associated with exercise intensity or post-game outcome; however, children consuming the cereal-based (high-sugar and high-glycemic index (GI)) snack exercised more intensely than the two lower-GI snack groups (P<0.05).

Children who consumed the high-sugar, high-GI snack also reported more symptoms of fatigue (P<0.05). A high-sugar, high-GI pre-game snack was associated with exercise intensity and fatigue but not changes in blood sugar or stress biomarkers following a soccer game in children.

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