The efficacy of carbohydrate supplementation and chronic high- carbohydrate diets for improving endurance performance.
Carbohydrate (CHO) is the body's most limited fuel and the most heavily metabolized during moderate-intensity exercise. For this reason it is recommended that endurance athletes consume a high-CHO diet (8-10 g CHO . kg body weight-1 . day-1) to enhance training and performance. A review of the literature supports the benefits of CHO supplementation on endurance performance. The benefits of chronic high-CHO diets on endurance performance are not as clear. Recent evidence suggests that a high-CHO diet may be necessary for optimal adaptations to training. However, the paucity of date in this area precludes any concrete conclusions. The practicality of high-CHO diets is not well understood. The available evidence would indicate that a high-CHO diet is the best dietary recommendation for endurance athletes.
Jacobs
K A
KA
Department of physical activity, Ohio State University, Columbus, 43210, USA.
Sherman
W M
WM
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D013177:Sports / Q000193:education / Q000502:physiology
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D006003:Glycogen