EFFECT OF GELATIN UPON MUSCULAR WORK IN MAN

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Abstract
The effect of gelatin upon muscular work and recovery was tested on 5 groups of subjects, 76 men in all. Exercises used were work on bicycle ergometers, swimming, heavy-wt. lifting and wall-wt. pulling. In every group sham gelatin feeding was practiced, farina being given instead of gelatin. In no instance increase in performance could be attributed to physiological action of gelatin. However, on certain occasions when either gelatin or the substitute was given, psychological effect was observed. The effect of training was evident. In a group of 12 jail inmates working on bicycle ergometers at the rate of 0.159 to 0.261 H.P., 5 times a week for 17-22 wks., improvement ranged from 75-4420%. Maximum working time reached 6 hrs. 12 min. a day, and the work 2,659,800 ft.-lbs. In 16 college students gelatin did not hasten recovery. Improvement after 10 wks. of training (5 days a wk. at the rate of 0.506 H.P.) reached 334%. One man, who continued his training for an additional 9 wks. could ride at 0.506 H.P. for 7 min. 30 sec., which approaches the limit of human exertion. He received no gelatin during training. College examinations caused a drop in most of the performance curves of students.

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