It's not just a ratio. It's an advantage.
What's the 4:1? It's the unique ratio of 4 parts carbohydrate to 1 part protein in Accelerade, Accel Gel, and Endurox R⁴ . It's a combination that unlocks the potential in protein and fuels superior endurance, performance, hydration and recovery.

Accelerade Studies

Protein added to a sports drink improves fluid retention. Seifert JG, Harmon J, DeClercq P. International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 16(4):420-9, 2006.

This study concluded that "contrary to popular misconception, adding protein to a carbohydrate-based sports drink.led to improved water retention by 15% over [a carb-only sports drink] and 40% over plain water". Cyclists exercised until they lost 2% of their body weight (through sweating) and then drank either a carb-protein sports drink (Accelerade?), a carb-only sports drink (Gatorade®), or water. Over the next three hours, measurements were taken to determine how much of each beverage was retained in the body (versus the amount lost through urination). The carb-protein sports drink was found to rehydrate the athletes 15% better than the carb-only sports drink and 40% better than water. All three drinks emptied from the stomach and were absorbed through the intestine at the same rate. In addition, there was no difference between the carb-protein drink and the carb-only drink in terms of effects on blood plasma volume. This suggests that the carb-protein drink resulted in increased water retention within and between cells. Therefore a carb-protein sports drink may be a preferable choice, over plain water and a carbohydrate-electrolyte sports drink, when rehydration and fluid retention are a concern.

Effects of a carbohydrate-protein beverage on cycling endurance and muscle damage. Saunders MJ, Kane MD, Todd MK. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. Jul;36(7):1233-8, 2004.

This study demonstrated that "A carbohydrate beverage with additional protein calories produced significant improvements in time to fatigue and reductions in muscle damage in endurance athletes" compared to a carb-only beverage. Fifteen male cyclists rode stationary bicycles to exhaustion while drinking either a carb-protein sports drink (Accelerade?) or a conventional carbohydrate sports drink (Gatorade®). The following day, the cyclists completed a second ride to exhaustion at a higher intensity. The athletes were able to ride 29% longer in the first workout and 40% longer in the second workout when given the carb-protein drink than when given Gatorade. Blood samples were taken from the cyclists and tested for signs of muscle damage (CPK). The results revealed that the carb-protein sports drink reduced muscle damage by 83% compared to the conventional carbohydrate sports drink.

Effect of a carbohydrate-protein supplement on endurance performance during exercise of varying intensity. Ivy JL, Res P, Sprague R, Widzer MO. International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. Sep;13(3):388- 401, 2003.

This study demonstrated that "the addition of protein to a carbohydrate supplement enhanced aerobic endurance performance above that which occurred with carbohydrate alone." Trained cyclists exercised at various intensities for three hours, then they cycled at high intensity until they were exhausted. Every 20 minutes they drank either a carb-protein sports drink (Accelerade?), a carb-only sports drink, or water. The carb-protein sports drink increased the amount of time the cyclists were able to continue pedaling by 24% compared to the carb-only sports drink and by 57% compared to water.

Carbohydrate-protein beverage improves muscle damage and function versus isocarbohydrate and isocaloric carbohydrate-only beverages. St. Laurent TJ, Todd MK, Saunders MJ, Valentine, RJ, and Flohr JA. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 38(5):S340, 2006.

This study showed that "a carbohydrate-protein beverage consumed during exercise attenuates post-exercise muscle damage, and improves subsequent muscle functioning compared to a placebo, or carbohydrate beverages matched for either carbohydrate or total calories." Twelve male cyclists performed four rides to exhaustion on a cycle ergometer. During the trials, subjects consumed 250 mL of either a carb-protein sports drink (Accelerade?), a carb-only beverage with the same number of total calories as Accelerade, a carb-only beverage with the same amount of carbohydrate as Accelerade but fewer calories, or a non-caloric flavored placebo every 15 minutes. Exercise sessions were repeated every five to ten days until each cyclist had used each of the four beverages. Measurements of muscle damage biomarkers (CPK and LDH) were taken before and after cycling. In addition, post-exercise muscle function was assessed one day post-exercise by recording the maximum number of leg extensions each subject could perform. On average, cyclists exhibited significantly lower levels of muscle damage markers and were able to perform significantly more leg extensions after riding with Accelerade than with any of the other beverages.

Inter-study examination of physiological variables associated with improved endurance performance with carbohydrate/protein administration. Saunders MJ, Todd MK, Valentine RJ, St. Laurent TG, Kane MD, Luden ND and Herrick JE. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 38(5):S113-S114, 2006.

This study concluded that "Combined data from three studies revealed significant improvements in performance. with [carb-protein] versus [carb-only] supplementation." Heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and lactate were lower in the carb-protein trials, and "decreases in HR and RPE were associated with improvements in performance." Data from previous studies showing a 19% average improvement in endurance performance with a carb-protein beverage (Accelerade?) compared to a carb-only beverage were reexamined to determine if the improvement was related to any physiological variables that were measured. The analysis revealed that heart rate, perceived exertion, and blood lactate levels were lower in the carb-protein trials, although only decreases in heart rate and perceived exertion were associated with improvements in performance.

Comparison of responses to exercise when consuming carbohydrate and carbohyrate/protein beverages. Valentine RJ, St. Laurent TJ, Saunders MJ, Todd MK and Flohr JA. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 38(5):S341, 2006.

This study found that "A [carb-protein] beverage consumed during exercise reduced lactate accumulation and perceived exertion compared to [carb-only] beverages.. and that "there are metabolic and performance advantages of [carb-protein] beverages over [carb-only beverages matched for either total calories or carbohydrate]." Ten male cyclists completed prolonged bouts of stationary cycling while consuming 250 mL of either a carb-protein beverage (Accelerade?), a carb-only beverage with the same number of total calories as Accelerade, or a carb-only beverage with the same amount of carbohydrate as Accelerade but fewer calories. The test was repeated every 5 to 10 days until all of the subjects had used all three beverages. Metabolic measures were assessed following 30 minutes of exercise. Blood lactate levels and heart rate were significantly lower in the Accelerade trial than in either of the carb-only beverage trials.

Effects of a six-day carbohydrate/protein intervention on muscle damage, soreness and performance in runners. Luden ND, Saunders MJ, Pratt CA, Bickford AS, Todd MK and Flohr JA. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 38(5):S341, 2006.

This study found that "Muscle recovery.was enhanced with the ingestion of a [carb-protein] recovery beverage compared to a [carb-only] recovery beverage." Twenty-three NCAA Division I cross-country runners completed traditional in-season training for six days. Immediately following each training session, subjects ingested either a carb-protein beverage (Accelerade?) or a carb-only beverage. Following a 21-day washout period, subjects repeated the same protocol as above, receiving the alternate beverage. Measurements of muscle damage (CPK) and muscle soreness were obtained before and after each trial. Compared to the carbohydrate-only, Accelerade reduced muscle damage by an average of 27% and muscle soreness by 30% in the runners.

The influence of a carbohydrate/protein sports drink on soccer sprint performance. Kipp R, Seifert JG, Burke ER. European College of Sports Medicine, Salzburg, Austria. Müller, Schwameder, Zallinger, Fasternbauer, eds. P12V-02, p 451, 2003.

This study showed that a carb-protein sports drink (Accelerade?) improves sprinting speed at the end of a long soccer training session compared to a sports drink containing only electrolytes. Following an intense soccer workout of 75 minutes, subjects participated in four speed trials with five minutes of rest after each sprint. Half the players drank the carb-protein drink while the other half drank an electrolyte-only drink. The carb-protein group actually improved their speed by 1.1 seconds between the first and last sprints, while the other group slowed down by 2.2 seconds.

The effects of a carbohydrate-protein drink on skating performance in collegiate hockey players. Olson B, Seifert J. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 36(5):S13, 2004.

This study proved that "Performance in high intensity, short duration activities can be enhanced with a [carb-protein sports drink]." The subjects were five collegiate male hockey players (one goalie and four skaters). Skaters ingested either a carbohydrate in sports drink (Accelerade?) or a non-caloric placebo during two 90-minute practice days. Treatments were then switched for the following week. Shooting was assessed in skaters by shooting 25 pucks at targets at 3-second intervals. Skating performance was measured by a time-to-complete task as players weaved through six cones while handling the puck. The goalie completed a skating drill of 10.5m and then an auditory/hand reaction time test using both hands. Performances were tested after practice on the second day. Speed performance improved by 8% and reaction time improved by 12% in the carb-protein sports drink treatment.

Muscle damage, hydration, and energy supplementation during recreational alpine skiing. Seifert JG, Kipp R, Amann M, Gazal O. European College of Sports Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia-Montenegro. Kikic, Zivanic, Ostojic, Tornjanski, eds. PP9-4, p 218, 2005.

This study demonstrated that "ingestion of a carb-protein beverage minimized muscle damage indices during skiing compared to placebo and no fluid." Thirty-one recreational skiers were separated into three groups. All three groups skied 12 runs, which took about three hours. One group drank nothing. A second group drank 6 ounces of a placebo (flavored water) after every second run. A third group drank an equal amount of the carb-protein sports drink (Accelerade?). After the 12th run, blood samples were taken from each skier and analyzed for two biomarkers of muscle stress (myoglobin and
creatine kinase). Subjects that received the carb-protein sports drink showed no signs of muscle damage, while indicators of muscle damage increased by 49% in subjects receiving only water.

Attenuated CPK following carbohydrate/protein intervention improves subsequent performance. Combest TM, Saunders MJ, Kane MD, et al. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 37(5), 2005.

This study involving cyclists found that "Post-exercise muscle damage was notably attenuated by [carb-protein] beverage administration in the majority of cyclists", and that "Cyclists who experienced large reductions in [muscle damage] following [carb-protein] treatments performed significantly better during subsequent exercise than non-responders." Fourteen recreationally competitive male cyclists rode stationary bikes to exhaustion. Subjects consumed either a carb-only sports drink or a carb-protein sports drink (Accelerade?) every 15 minutes of exercise, and within 30 minutes of exercise completion. Fifteen hours later, subjects had blood samples taken to assess plasma CPK levels (a marker of muscle damage), and then performed a second ride to exhaustion. The majority of subjects experienced large attenuations in CPK during the carb-protein trial versus the carb-only trial. The remaining five cyclists were "non-responders". To determine whether differences in post-exercise CPK responses influenced subsequent cycling endurance, performance was compared between the two groups during the second ride using a dependent t-test. The difference in time to exhaustion was significantly larger in the responder group than the non-responder group.