Dr. Michael Ormsbee

And there were a couple of studies on it, like Mike Roberts' group did a little bit with it, which was how we sort of knew about it. And we just sort of took it another step. We used the microdialysis probes again, and we started with cyclists. And so we brought in well-trained—they were very well-trained. They weren't elite, but they were very well-trained cyclists—

And there were a couple of studies on it, like Mike Roberts' group did a little bit with it, which was how we sort of knew about it. And we just sort of took it another step. We used the microdialysis probes again, and we started with cyclists. And so we brought in well-trained—they were very well-trained. They weren't elite, but they were very well-trained cyclists—

And so we put them through or Dan put them through this gnarly protocol where we made it as gut jarring as you possibly could with interval sprints and all these different protocols in a long duration. And we wanted to see 30 grams of it, which would be like a low dose. And then we also gave 60 grams of it. because that's what was recommended is 60 grams of carbohydrate.

And so we put them through or Dan put them through this gnarly protocol where we made it as gut jarring as you possibly could with interval sprints and all these different protocols in a long duration. And we wanted to see 30 grams of it, which would be like a low dose. And then we also gave 60 grams of it. because that's what was recommended is 60 grams of carbohydrate.

And then we compared that to what's traditionally used in an over-the-counter sports drink. So we compared it to other sports drinks as well. And in the first study, we saw that when you compared 60 grams of the SuperStarch to 60 grams of a sports drink, the biggest trouble was that the SuperStarch induced more GI upset.

And then we compared that to what's traditionally used in an over-the-counter sports drink. So we compared it to other sports drinks as well. And in the first study, we saw that when you compared 60 grams of the SuperStarch to 60 grams of a sports drink, the biggest trouble was that the SuperStarch induced more GI upset.

And unfortunately, the claims were that there was going to be less GI upset. But in our hands, we actually saw more GI upset.

And unfortunately, the claims were that there was going to be less GI upset. But in our hands, we actually saw more GI upset.

It is, yeah. It's like a visual analog scale, and it's a 10-point scale, and you mark a line with where you feel. And nausea, wanting to vomit, that kind of thing. It was a tough protocol. So that's not good. Right. And performance, the outcomes we had were actually not different. You just felt terrible.

It is, yeah. It's like a visual analog scale, and it's a 10-point scale, and you mark a line with where you feel. And nausea, wanting to vomit, that kind of thing. It was a tough protocol. So that's not good. Right. And performance, the outcomes we had were actually not different. You just felt terrible.

So like if you're talking about rating a perceived exertion and that can really dictate or limit like how well you perform. For sure. You think it's harder. But when we compared it to the 30-gram dose, which is what was typically recommended, like a lower dose, you don't need as much, worse performance. No GI upset, but worse performance.

So like if you're talking about rating a perceived exertion and that can really dictate or limit like how well you perform. For sure. You think it's harder. But when we compared it to the 30-gram dose, which is what was typically recommended, like a lower dose, you don't need as much, worse performance. No GI upset, but worse performance.

So now you're in a case where, okay, there wasn't any GI upset, but you weren't taking enough.

So now you're in a case where, okay, there wasn't any GI upset, but you weren't taking enough.

So, yeah, you got in this other case. And so at the highest dose, if you could train your gut, then perhaps it was something that you could use. But you could also just use another sports drink and have a similar response. I will say two things about it, though. A mistake that was made perhaps that we did and could do better was that we didn't familiarize people to taking it.

So, yeah, you got in this other case. And so at the highest dose, if you could train your gut, then perhaps it was something that you could use. But you could also just use another sports drink and have a similar response. I will say two things about it, though. A mistake that was made perhaps that we did and could do better was that we didn't familiarize people to taking it.

People were used to the sports drink, the other, the comparator. Okay. But they never like had it before. So perhaps we should have given it for a while beforehand and then tried it.

People were used to the sports drink, the other, the comparator. Okay. But they never like had it before. So perhaps we should have given it for a while beforehand and then tried it.

It shouldn't be any different. But nevertheless, that's a comment that we received. I don't know about that.

It shouldn't be any different. But nevertheless, that's a comment that we received. I don't know about that.