Soundharya Periyapandi1, Saravana Prabha Rajendran1, Karthikeyan Nagaraj2, Satheeshkumar Palanivel3, Pavithra Selvaraj4, Erianti5, Josyula Tejaswi6
1Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Department of Physical Education, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
2Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Faculty of General & Adapted Physical Education and Yoga, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
3Takshashila University, Department of Physical Education, Tindivanam, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu, India
4REVA University, Sports and Exercise Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
5Universitas Negeri Padang, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Sumatera Barat, Indonesia
6Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences, Maharashtra, India
Combined Effects of Aerobic Interval Training and Nutrient- Fortified Fermented Rice Porridge on Endurance Performance, Cardiopulmonary Fitness, and Recovery Kinetics in Collegiate Distance Runners: A Four-Arm Randomised Controlled Trial
Sport Mont 2026, 24(3), Ahead of Print | DOI: 10.26773/smj.261001
Abstract
To examine the combined effects of aerobic interval training (AIT) and nutrient-fortified fermented rice porridge (NFFRP) on endurance performance, cardiopulmonary fitness, and recovery kinetics in collegiate distance runners. A 12-week, single-centre, four-arm parallel-group randomised controlled trial enrolled 90 collegiate runners (18–25 years) allocated equally to: (1) AIT + NFFRP, (2) AIT + placebo, (3) conventional training (CT) + NFFRP, or (4) CT + placebo. AIT comprised three weekly sessions of 4×4-min intervals at 90–95% HRmax. NFFRP (300 mL twice daily on training days) provided carbohydrate, protein, iron, and probiotics; the placebo contained approximately 120 kcal versus 295 kcal in NFFRP. The primary outcome was half-marathon completion time. Secondary outcomes included VO₂max, peripheral oxygen satu- ration (SpO₂), one-minute recovery heart rate, blood lactate, heart rate variability (RMSSD), rating of perceived exertion, haemoglobin, and running economy. All 90 participants completed the trial. The AIT + NFFRP group showed the greatest improvement in half-marathon time (−14.6%; mean −16.8 min; 95% CI −19.3 to −14.3; p<0.001), VO₂max (+15.8%), blood lactate reduction (−31.7%), and RMSSD improvement (+34.9%). Significant group-by-time interactions were observed across all outcomes (p<0.001; η²p = 0.34–0.46). Combining AIT with NFFRP was associated with greater improvements in endurance performance and recovery than either intervention alone. However, NFFRP’s caloric and nutritional compo- sition differed substantially from the placebo, and the specific contributions of fermentation, probiotics, or iron cannot be isolated from the current design.
Keywords
faerobic interval training, fermented rice, endurance running, VO₂max, recovery kinetics, half marathon, collegiate athletes, sports nutrition, probiotics
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