The Influence of Bovine Colostrum Supplementation on Exercise Performance in Highly-Trained Cyclists

Cecilia M Shing ^1*, David G Jenkins ¹, Lesley Stevenson ² and Jeff S Coombes ¹

¹ University of Queensland, Australia
² Southern Cross University, Australia

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: cshing{at}hms.uq.edu.au.

Accepted 22 June 2006

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this experiment was to investigate the influence of low dose bovine colostrum supplementation on exercise performance over a ten week period that included five days of high-intensity training (HIT).

Methods: Over seven days of preliminary testing, 29 highly-trained male road cyclists completed a VO2max test (in which their ventilatory threshold was estimated), a time to fatigue test at 110% of ventilatory threshold and a 40-km time trial (TT40). Cyclists were then assigned to either a supplement [n=14, 10g/day bovine colostrum protein concentrate (CPC)] or a placebo group (n=15, 10g/day whey protein) and resumed their normal training. Following five weeks of supplementation, the cyclists returned to the laboratory to complete a second series of performance testing (week 8). They then underwent five consecutive days of HIT (week 9) followed by a further series of performance tests (week 10).

Results: The influence of bovine CPC on TT40 performance during normal training was unclear (week 7: 1 ± 3.1%, week 9: 0.1 ± 2.1%; mean ± 90% confidence limits). However, at the end of the HIT period bovine CPC supplementation, compared to the placebo, elicited a 1.9 ± 2.2% improvement from baseline in TT40 performance, a 2.3 ± 6.0% increase in time trial intensity (% VO2max) and maintained TT40 heart rate (2.5 ± 3.7%). In addition, bovine CPC supplementation prevented a decrease in ventilatory threshold following the HIT period (4.6 ± 4.6%).

Conclusion: Low dose bovine CPC supplementation elicited improvements in TT40 performance during a HIT period and maintained ventilatory threshold following five consecutive days of HIT.

Key Words: recovery, time to fatigue, time trial, ventilatory threshold

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