Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-5-2017

Publication Title

Optimal Nutrition for Endurance Exercise: A Systematic Review

Department

Geisel School of Medicine

Abstract

Introduction

As fatigue in endurance events correlates with depletion of muscle glycogen, the traditional approach to nutritional support has been carbohydrate loading. However, there has been recent interest in improving athletic endurance performance by novel diets in the days to weeks prior to endurance events, the pre-event meal, and during exercise.

Methods

We searched PubMed and SCOPUS for randomized trials published from 1992-2017 with a primary endpoint of endurance performance. We identified 407 citations which were examined against our inclusion criteria of randomization or crossover allocation to diet and for which a primary outcome was endurance performance.

Results

Twenty full text articles met our inclusion criteria and were included in the present review. In the days to weeks prior to testing, one trial of a high-fat diet versus carbohydrate improved performance, the others were neutral. There was no benefit of substituting protein for carbohydrate during this time period, but almond intake did result in ergogenic benefits. In the pre-event meal, fat only showed ergogenic benefits when combined with carbohydrate intake. A single study suggested that vegetable-derived nitrates did provide benefit. During endurance events, partial substitution of carbohydrates with protein had varying results on performance and should be further examined.

Conclusion

Carbohydrates remain the best fuel source both before and during events for overall endurance performance compared to other macronutrients, including water. Partial substitution of carbohydrate with fat and protein immediately before and during events warrants further investigation. Additional trials on nitrates and almond consumption are also needed.

DOI

DOI: 10.15226/jnhfs.2017.00198

Original Citation

Bruce W Andrus, Sarah E Andrus (2017) Optimal Nutrition for Endurance Exercise: A Systematic Review. J Nutrition Health Food Sci 5(5):1-9. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15226/jnhfs.2017.00198

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