The participants completed a 120-minute soccer match simulation on 2 occasions. Before and throughout the match, the participants took carbohydrate gels containing either glucose alone (120 grams of carbohydrates total) or glucose plus fructose (180 grams of carbohydrates total).

The researchers assessed gastrointestinal discomfort, jump performance, passing accuracy, and sprint performance, and the participants reported their mental fatigue before and 3 times during the match. There were no differences between the conditions.

Fructose plus glucose increased abdominal cramps by approximately 9%, compared to glucose alone, whereas other symptoms (i.e., flatulence, fullness, and reflux) were higher with glucose alone than with fructose and glucose combined during different points in the match.

Is fructose plus glucose better than glucose alone for soccer performance? Original paper