In the world of sports supplementation, in recent times, particular attention has been paid to supporting the ‘critical’ moments before/during/after performance or training, known as ‘peri-workout’. Knowing how to support these particular phases, with suitable elements that do not weigh down or hinder the muscular activity due to digestive processes or sudden drops in blood sugar, means a significant improvement in performance through a more constant blood sugar action, in the subsequent muscular recovery through the ‘plastic’ material, and in the entire organism (including the nervous and immune systems). Charge PERFORMANCE is the new drink by Yamamoto® Nutrition based on Palatinose® (isomaltulose), essential amino acids (EAAs), citrulline malate, Ribodiet®, and potassium and magnesium citrates, which we can define as a real all-round weapon for those who are preparing for intense and prolonged training sessions where a constant and long-lasting glycaemic support is necessary, and then favour the immediate action of the energy and muscular recovery processes, as for example in combat sports, crossfit, triathlon, cycling, athletics, beach volleyball, but also body building, in the sense of high volume training. For all these athletes it is essential to have a performance that is as constant and continuous as possible, an energetic, muscular, hydrogeological-saline recovery that is as fast and efficient as possible, as well as keeping the whole body, already subjected to strong physical stress, healthy!
Even if the whole formula is the complete ‘winning’ synergy of this product, the ‘main’ carbohydrate of Charge PERFORMANCE is Palatinose®, or ‘Isomaltulose’ a disaccharide formed by glucose and fructose, already present in nature also in honey and cane sugar syrup. It is produced using modern enzymatic conversion techniques starting from sucrose. Isomaltulose has a high sweetening power, and for this reason it is often compared (and substituted) with sucrose, and like it, it is totally digested in the intestine, even if its digestion is slower. A characteristic structural feature is that the bonds of the molecules that form isomaltulose (alpha(a)-1,6-glycosidic) are more stable than those of the molecules present in sucrose, therefore, interesting and very welcome news for sportsmen and women who want to maintain optimal performance, the levels of glycaemia and insulin increase much less than with other sugars. This particular type of bond between its two components (fructose and glucose) slows down the speed of absorption. Subsequently, our intestinal disaccharidases, which are the enzymes capable of breaking the molecular bond between the two sugars forming the disaccharide, will favour their subsequent absorption and bioavailability, proceeding much more slowly for isomaltulose than for other more well-known disaccharide sugars, such as sucrose. As a result, the level of glycaemia and that of insulin will increase much less and will be very gradual without creating peaks or dramatic glycaemic drops, making it a very useful element particularly for endurance sports such as cycling, athletics, triathlon, cross-country skiing, etc. Its main characteristic is its low glycaemic index and reduced osmolarity compared to glucose and fructose, sources of carbohydrates widely used in the past in sports supplementation, but which have several limitations or potential side effects. The broken down glucose enters the bloodstream more slowly than when other sugars are used, with less stimulation of insulin release. Isomaltulose has a glycemic index similar to fructose, but compared to it, it has the advantage of having less of an impact on the hepatic production of triglycerides and is therefore more suitable than fructose, or classic sugar mixtures used by athletes based on fructose, glucose and/or maltodextrin. This means that athletes have more constant energy during training and fewer glycemic or insulin fluctuations, and last but not least, we should remember that unlike the more ‘famous’ carbohydrates used in the past, with isomaltulose we will be much less susceptible to gastrointestinal disorders such as bloating, fermentation including cramp-like symptoms, nausea, osmotic diarrhoea or allergic reactions. A curious characteristic of this carbohydrate is that it does not favour the onset of tooth decay because it cannot be utilised by the micro-organisms responsible for its appearance. From a ‘metabolic’ point of view, it has emerged that in some comparative studies, when isomaltulose is used instead of other disaccharides with a higher glycaemic index, the body oxidises fewer carbohydrates and more fatty acids, thus saving the carbohydrate reserves. Combined in synergy with Palatinose®, to promote a better restoration of glycogen stores, the best protein synthesis and to modulate the surge of cortisol (stress hormone) generated by training, there are essential amino acids (based on vegetable fermentation), considered to be truly fundamental elements for triggering and supporting muscle reconstruction processes at such a ‘crucial’ moment for the synthesis of new proteins**, not only to support the precious damaged muscles.
Another element of great interest in the field of sports present in this formulation is L-Citrulline malate, a non-essential amino acid that has a powerful vasodilatory action, reflexively improving the elasticity of the blood vessels, thanks to its increase in endogenous concentrations of Arginine, favouring a strong stimulation of Nitric Oxide, even more than Arginine itself, which instead undergoes intense metabolism in the intestine and liver, which greatly reduces its absorption. This means a great support to the flow of blood rich in nutrients and oxygen to the muscles involved in training. Citrulline also plays an important role in counteracting muscle fatigue, on the one hand by directly improving trophic capacities to support the muscle and on the other by promoting the elimination of catabolites derived from muscle activity.
The Research and Development department at Yamamoto® Nutrition has always been very attentive to the needs and requirements of athletes, both in terms of athletic performance and their health. Particular attention is paid to the gastrointestinal system as one of the ‘weak’ points of athletes subjected to continuous and prolonged stress, where the immune system can be negatively influenced.
For the first time, an element that supports the gastrointestinal system has been added to the formulation of a periworkout drink: Ribodiet**®, a natural product obtained from yeast cells of the Kluyveromyces fragilis or Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, obtained through a controlled extraction process, without altering the raw material, and without the use of organic solvents. Ribodiet® consists of free nucleotides, nucleosides, oligonucleotides, nucleic acid fragments, amino acids, mineral salts and B vitamins. These precious nucleotides, already well-known in the field of clinical and neonatal nutrition, have a direct effect on maintaining the integrity and trophism of the intestinal mucosa. It is also very interesting to note that for athletes subjected to ‘extreme’ stressful situations, the integration of a nucleoside-nucleotide mixture accelerates recovery after food deprivation**, infections or protein deficiency. Interesting defence activity in improving the intestinal microbial flora, stimulating the growth of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli, demonstrating activity on both humoral and cell-mediated immunity, accelerating the production of antibodies such as T-dependent and neutrophil cells, thus increasing the potential for resistance to infections of the athlete's delicate organism.
