Insufficient dietary carbohydrate during training: does it impair athletic performance?
It is well established that adequate bodily carbohydrate reserves are required for optimal endurance. Based on this fact, it has been hypothesized that consumption of a diet with a high percentage of carbohydrate energy will optimize training adaptations and athletic performance. Scrutiny of the literature, however, does not strongly support the hypothesis that short-term or long-term reductions in dietary carbohydrate energy impairs training or athletic performance. Additional studies with well devised training protocols and performance tests are necessary to prove or disprove the hypothesis that a high carbohydrate energy diet is necessary to optimize training adaptations and performance. Because dietary carbohydrate contributes directly to bodily carbohydrate reserves, and because a high carbohydrate energy diet does not impair athletic performance, it remains prudent to advise athletes to consume a diet with a high carbohydrate energy content.
Sherman
W M
WM
Exercise Physiology Laboratory, School of HPER, Ohio State University, Columbus 43210.
Wimer
G S
GS
D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D010806:Physical Education and Training
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D006003:Glycogen