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Guidelines for daily carbohydrate intake: do athletes achieve them?
L M Burke1, G R Cox, N K Culmmings
1Department of Sports Nutrition, Australian Institute of Sport, Belconnen, ACT, Australia. louise.burke@ausport.gov.au
Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
|April 20, 2001
Summary
Official guidelines recommend high carbohydrate (CHO) intake for athletes, but this study suggests expressing needs in grams per kilogram of body weight. Female athletes may struggle to meet these targets due to body fat concerns.
Area of Science:
- Sports Nutrition
- Exercise Physiology
- Dietary Science
Background:
- Official dietary guidelines recommend high carbohydrate (CHO) intake for athletes.
- These recommendations face criticism regarding scientific support and athlete adherence.
- Current guidelines expressed as a percentage of energy intake may be problematic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the expression of CHO intake guidelines for athletes.
- To suggest revised CHO intake recommendations in grams per kilogram of body weight.
- To explore factors influencing CHO intake adequacy in male and female athletes.
Main Methods:
- Review of current dietary survey literature on athletes' CHO intake.
- Analysis of CHO intake recommendations in relation to body mass.
- Consideration of limitations in dietary assessment techniques.
Main Results:
- Male athletes generally meet recommended CHO intake ranges (g/kg basis).
- Female athletes, especially endurance athletes, are less likely to meet CHO guidelines.
- Energy restriction for body fat management is a key factor for female athletes.
Conclusions:
- Recommending CHO intake in grams per kilogram of body weight offers more flexibility.
- Nutritional education and counselling are important for athletes to meet CHO targets.
- Further research is needed on the long-term effects of varying CHO intakes on performance.