J 2023

Nutrition Periodization in Recreational Endurance Athletes During Training Camp – Case study

KUMSTÁT, Michal and Tomáš HLINSKÝ

Basic information

Original name

Nutrition Periodization in Recreational Endurance Athletes During Training Camp – Case study

Name (in English)

Nutrition Periodization in Recreational Endurance Athletes During Training Camp – Case study

Authors

KUMSTÁT, Michal (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Tomáš HLINSKÝ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Studia sportiva, 2023, 2570-8783

Other information

Language

Czech

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

30306 Sport and fitness sciences

Country of publisher

Czech Republic

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14510/23:00134775

Organization unit

Faculty of Sports Studies

Keywords in English

nutrient timing; nutritional strategy; energy intake; carbohydrates
Změněno: 28/5/2024 16:20, doc. Mgr. Michal Kumstát, Ph.D.

Abstract

V originále

Both training and dietary practices used by athletes greatly vary. Current sports nutrition guidelines promote dietary manipulation of energy-yielding nutrients specific to the period of training. The study explores the ad libitum nutrition practices of four healthy adult recreational athletes during a 2-week cycling training camp (~100 km·d-1, ~240 min·d-1) with particular attention to the current sports nutrition recommendations. Based on evidence-based guidelines, peri-exercise carbohydrate (CHO) and protein (PRO) intake periodization cut-off levels were set for athletes. Training days were categorized as hard (HARD, two training units/day), middle (MID, one training unit/day), and easy (LOW, no training). Fourteen-day diet records were used and analyzed by nutritional software for energy intake (EI), carbohydrate (CHO), and protein (PRO) intake.Relative daily EI of 78.6±4.5, 73.3±6.4, 75.4±8.2 kcal·kg·d-1, and CHO 8.9±0.8, 7.8±1.0, 8.2±1.5 g·kg1 intakes were not different in HARD, MID and LOW days, respectively. The mean daily EI was 1.3× higher than the predicted total daily energy expenditure, irrespective of the training day category, resulting in ~500 kcal·d-1 energy surplus. In the 2h post-exercise period, PRO intake exceeded the current recommendations 4.6-fold, and CHO intake was significantly lower after a second training session on HARD days (0.7 g·kg·h-1) than a recommendation (1.2 g·kg·h-1). Mean in-exercise CHO intake (~11.5 g·h-1) was significantly under the moderate 30 g·h-1 recommendation.In conclusion, the dietary behaviours of recreational athletes are not consistent with current sports nutrition periodization guidelines. Energy intake throughout the training camp led to positive energy balance being highest on non-training days. Daily or during and post-exercise CHO and PRO intakes were not adjusted to the training sessions' volume, intensity, or duration.

In English

Both training and dietary practices used by athletes greatly vary. Current sports nutrition guidelines promote dietary manipulation of energy-yielding nutrients specific to the period of training. The study explores the ad libitum nutrition practices of four healthy adult recreational athletes during a 2-week cycling training camp (~100 km·d-1, ~240 min·d-1) with particular attention to the current sports nutrition recommendations. Based on evidence-based guidelines, peri-exercise carbohydrate (CHO) and protein (PRO) intake periodization cut-off levels were set for athletes. Training days were categorized as hard (HARD, two training units/day), middle (MID, one training unit/day), and easy (LOW, no training). Fourteen-day diet records were used and analyzed by nutritional software for energy intake (EI), carbohydrate (CHO), and protein (PRO) intake.Relative daily EI of 78.6±4.5, 73.3±6.4, 75.4±8.2 kcal·kg·d-1, and CHO 8.9±0.8, 7.8±1.0, 8.2±1.5 g·kg1 intakes were not different in HARD, MID and LOW days, respectively. The mean daily EI was 1.3× higher than the predicted total daily energy expenditure, irrespective of the training day category, resulting in ~500 kcal·d-1 energy surplus. In the 2h post-exercise period, PRO intake exceeded the current recommendations 4.6-fold, and CHO intake was significantly lower after a second training session on HARD days (0.7 g·kg·h-1) than a recommendation (1.2 g·kg·h-1). Mean in-exercise CHO intake (~11.5 g·h-1) was significantly under the moderate 30 g·h-1 recommendation.In conclusion, the dietary behaviours of recreational athletes are not consistent with current sports nutrition periodization guidelines. Energy intake throughout the training camp led to positive energy balance being highest on non-training days. Daily or during and post-exercise CHO and PRO intakes were not adjusted to the training sessions' volume, intensity, or duration.