Scientists from Montana State University compared the effects of Body Glove Surge from PacificHealth Laboratories, a supplement shot containing carbs, protein and caffeine (CPC), with 5-Hour Energy, which contains caffeine, taurine, and niacin (CTN), and a placebo.
“The major finding of the present study is that a low dose carbohydrate, protein, and caffeine supplement (22.5 g/hr CHO, 3.5 g/hr PRO and 188 mg caffeine/hr) resulted in improved power output and response time over that of CTN treatment (256 mg caffeine/hr) even though the CPC contains 27% less caffeine than the CTN treatment,” wrote John Seifert and David Connor in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition.
“In contrast to previously published reports, even with the high dose of caffeine, the CTN treatment did not confer statistically significant power output or response time performance advantages over placebo, although there were strong trends for CTN to result in improved performances.”
The study was funded by PacificHealth Laboratories.
History
There is history between the two brands, with well-known sports science researcher Dr Robert Portman, who is chair of PacificHealth Laboratories, questioning the role of specific ingredients in 5-Hour Energy, including come B vitamins and taurine.
Dr Portman told our sister publication BeverageDaily.com last year that no human studies show that taurine supplementation raises energy levels or improves mental concentration.
5-Hour Energy owner Living Essentials has strongly defended its product and states it has “reliable and competent scientific support for its claims relating to its 5-Hour Energy product”.
Study details
The new study included 14 people (four women, 10 men) with an average age of 30.1 years and an average weight of 75 kg. Thirteen people completed the study. The participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups and cycled for 120 minutes. They ingested half a serving of the energy shot after 30 minutes, a full serving after 60 minutes, and another full serving after 90 minutes.
“The goal of this administration was an attempt to have maximal caffeine levels for the performance tests at the end of the two hour exercise,” explained Seifert and Connor.
One serving of the Body Glove Surge provided 18 grams of carbohydrate, 3 grams of protein, and 150 mg of caffeine giving a total intake of caffeine for the test of 375 mg. One serving of 5 Hour Energy provided 205 mg caffeine, 480 mg taurine, and 30 mg niacin, giving a total caffeine intake of 512 mg.
The participants acted as their own controls, crossing over to the other groups with seven to 10 days between experimental days.
Results showed that 77% of subjects had a greater power output during the time trial after consuming the Body Glove Surge compared with 5 Hour Energy. In addition, 92% had a significantly faster average response time, which is a measure of mental concentration and alertness, after two hours after consuming the Body Glove Surge compared with 5 Hour Energy.
“It is possible that the [Body Glove Surge] treatment conferred not only a positive peripheral effect, but also a central effect,” wrote the researchers. “Even with a large caffeine dose, the combination of caffeine, taurine, niacin led to an inhibitory pattern which did not improve power output or response time performances over a placebo.”
Source: Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition
11:56, doi:
“The influence of commercial energy shots on response time and power output in recreational cyclists”
Authors: J.G. Seifert, D.A. Connor