Fructose does not further improve muscle glycogen?

Is the combination of fructose and glucose better for muscle glycogen recovery?

The absorption of the carbohydrate glucose is the limiting factor in using glucose drinks for energy during exercise (called carbohydrate oxidation). Fructose is a carbohydrate that is absorbed differently from glucose.

Therefore, a combination of glucose and fructose allows a higher total carbohydrate absorption rate, oxidation rate, and exercise performance However, does this combination also improve the recovery of the muscle carbohydrate stores (i.e. muscle glycogen) after exercise?

This study investigated whether the combination of fructose and glucose improves muscle glycogen recovery after exhaustive exercise. Subjects were trained cyclists that performed high-intensity cycling exercise to deplete their muscle glycogen stores. Afterwards, subjects received either 1.5 g/kg/h of glucose or 1.2 g/kg/h glucose combined with 0.3 g/kg/h fructose during the 5 hours of recovery.

Both the glucose only and the glucose/fructose mix increased muscle glycogen stores. However, there was no difference between the drinks.

However, the glucose/fructose mix resulted in less gastrointestinal complaints. In addition, the glucose/fructose mix is likely better for liver glycogen, but it was not measured in this study.

Our study:
Trommelen et al. Fructose Coingestion Does Not Accelerate Postexercise Muscle Glycogen Repletion. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2016

Go to the next infographic in the carbohydrate series:
Muscle glycogen can be fully restored in a day?