Research article

Improved time to exhaustion following ingestion of the energy drink Amino Impact™

Allyson L Walsh, Adam M Gonzalez, Nicholas A Ratamess, Jie Kang and Jay R Hoffman^*

• * Corresponding author: Jay R Hoffman hoffmanj@tcnj.edu

Author Affiliations

The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ 08628-0718, USA

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Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2010, 7:14 doi:10.1186/1550-2783-7-14

Published: 15 April 2010

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a commercially available energy drink on time to exhaustion during treadmill exercise. In addition, subjective measures of energy, focus, and fatigue were examined

Methods

Fifteen subjects (9 men and 6 women; 20.9 ± 1.0 y; 172.1 ± 9.1 cm; 71.0 ± 9.4 kg; 16.9 ± 9.7% body fat) underwent two testing sessions administered in a randomized, double-blind fashion. Subjects reported to the laboratory in a 3-hr post-absorptive state and were provided either the supplement (SUP; commercially marketed as Amino Impact™) or placebo (P). During each laboratory visit subjects performed a treadmill run (70% VO₂ max) to exhaustion. Mean VO₂ was measured during each endurance exercise protocol. Subjects were required to complete visual analog scales for subjective measures of energy, focus and fatigue at the onset of exercise (PRE), 10-mins into their run (EX10) and immediately post-exercise (IP).

Results

Time to exhaustion was significantly greater (p = 0.012) during SUP than P. Subjects consuming the supplement were able to run 12.5% longer than during the placebo treatment. Subjects consuming SUP reported significantly greater focus (p = 0.031), energy (p = 0.016), and less fatigue (p = 0.005) at PRE. Significant differences between groups were seen at EX10 for focus (p = 0.026) and energy (p = 0.004), but not fatigue (p = 0.123). No differences were seen at IP for either focus (p = 0.215), energy (p = 0.717) or fatigue (p = 0.430).

Conclusions

Results of this study indicate that the supplement Amino Impact™ can significantly increase time to exhaustion during a moderate intensity endurance run and improve subjective feelings of focus, energy and fatigue.