The effects of maltodextrin and protein supplementation on serum metabolites in exercising competitive weight-pulling dogs
Kim, H.T. et al.
2019
Comparative Exercise Physiology

Repletion of skeletal muscle glycogen with maltodextrin, with or without highly digestible protein, improves performance in humans. Cornell University scientists in collaboration with Nestle Purina evaluated the substrate utilization in twelve weight pulling dogs, specifically, the effect of maltodextrin and protein supplementation on serum betabolomics before exercise and during recovery, at 0, 30 min and 3 hours post exercise. LC-MS ( liquid chromatography mass spectrometry) identified 242 metabolites. Nine metabolites of citric acid cycle changed significanly after exercise. With supplementation, eight metabolites including amino acids and carbohydrate intermediates increased 30 min after exercise. Thirty seven metabolites, most related to amino acid increased 3 hours post ecercise. With supplementation, decreases in fatty acid metabolites were seen at this time. These metabolite changes indicate that maltodextrin and protein supplementation post exercise supports glucose metabolism and alters fatty acid metabolism or clearance during recovery after weight pulling.