NCT07099807

Carbohydrate Mouth Rinsing and Cognitive Response During Exercise

Carbohydrate Mouth Rinsing Enhances Prefrontal Cortex Oxygenation and Cognitive Performance, Reducing Perceived Exertion During High-Intensity Exercise

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 11 (actual)
• Sponsor: CHA University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 20 Years – 30 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study investigates whether rinsing the mouth with a carbohydrate solution can improve brain oxygenation and cognitive function during high-intensity exercise. Eleven trained cyclists participated in multiple exercise sessions under different mouth rinse conditions. Brain oxygenation, perceived exertion, and cognitive performance were measured. The goal is to understand if this simple technique can support both physical and mental performance during demanding exercise.

Conditions

• Exercise Performance of Fit Athletes

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Carbohydrate Mouth Rinse	A 6.4% maltodextrin solution (64 g/L) was prepared using Nutricost Maltodextrin Powder. Participants performed five mouth rinses per trial, each using 25 mL of the solution for 10 seconds before expectorating. Each rinse was followed by a 30-second rest. Participants were instructed not to swallow the solution. Rinsing procedure was standardized across all sessions.
BEHAVIORAL	Placebo Mouth Rinse	A placebo solution containing 0.05 g/L of non-caloric sucralose in distilled water was used to match sweetness and viscosity of the CHO-MR. Participants performed five rinses of 25 mL for 10 seconds each, spitting out the solution after each rinse. 30-second rest intervals followed each rinse. Swallowing was not allowed. Rinse frequency, volume, and duration were standardized.
BEHAVIORAL	Music Listening	Participants listened to high-tempo music (120 bpm) for 15 minutes before exercise using standardized earbuds. Music was selected from a public YouTube playlist titled "120 BPM Best Dance Music for Running and Working Out." Volume was calibrated at 65 dB (50% of max device volume). Auditory conditions were standardized across all participants.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-02-28
• Primary completion: 2025-05-15
• Completion: 2025-05-17
• First posted: 2025-08-01
• Last updated: 2025-08-01

Locations

1 site across 1 country: South Korea