Timing of postexercise carbohydrate-protein supplementation: roles of gastrointestinal blood flow and mucosal cell damage on gastric emptying in humans

It is well known that protein ingestion immediately after exercise greatly stimulates muscle protein synthesis during the postexercise recovery phase. However, immediately after strenuous exercise, the gastrointestinal (GI) mucosa is frequently injured by hypoperfusion in the organ/tissue, possibly resulting in impaired GI function (e.g., gastric emptying; GE). The aim of this study was to examine the effect of GI blood flow on the GE rate. Eight healthy young subjects performed an intermittent supramaximal cycling exercise for 30 min, which consisted of a 120% V̇o 2peak for 20 s, followed by 20 W for 40 s. The subjects ingested 300 ml of a nutrient drink containing carbohydrate-protein at either 5 min postexercise in one trial (PE-5) or 30 min postexercise in another trial (PE-30). In the control trial (Con), the subjects ingested the same drink without exercise. The celiac artery blood flow (CABF) and superior mesenteric artery blood flow (SMABF) and GE rate were assessed by ultrasonography. Before drink ingestion in PE-5, CABF significantly decreased from baseline, whereas in PE-30, it returned to baseline. Following drink ingestion in PE-5, CABF did not change from baseline, but it significantly increased in PE-30 and Con. SMABF increased significantly later in PE-5 than in PE-30 and Con. The GE rate was consistently slower in PE-5 than in PE-30 and Con. In conclusion, the CABF response after exercise seems to modulate the subsequent GE rate and SMABF response. NEW & NOTEWORTHY A carbohydrate-protein drink was ingested at either 5 min (i.e., profoundly decreased celiac artery blood flow; CABF) or 30 min (i.e., already recovered CABF) postexercise. In the 5-min postexercise trial, the gastric emptying (GE) rate and superior mesenteric artery blood flow (SMABF) response were slower than those in the 30-min postexercise trial. The GE rate and SMABF response may be altered depending on the postexercise CABF response.