Dietary and nutritional supplementation strategies for table tennis athletes: a mini-review

Table tennis (TT) has been defined as a fast and explosive aerobic sport. Athletes are required to move expeditiously around the table to catch the ball and produce a strong return. The body utilizes glycogen and fat stores as the primary energy sources. Furthermore, this sport demands that athletes possess not only explosive power, speed and endurance, but also anaerobic capacity. Consequently, these qualities are contingent on a combination of physical, technical and psychological attributes. TT demands a high level of concentration and technical proficiency from athletes, encompassing elements such as precise hitting, rapid responsiveness, and exacting control. This highly concentrated technical requirement will consume a significant amount of energy. A balanced and nutritionally adequate diet is essential for athletes, as it provides the energy and nutrients necessary to support their training and competition requirements. The present review is predicated on the physiological needs of TT, including energy consumption during training and competition, and the main metabolic pathways of TT. This paper provides nutritional suggestions for TT athletes. In addition to the hydration strategy, the daily intake guidelines of carbohydrate, protein and fat are also discussed. Micronutrients, including iron, magnesium and vitamin D, also provide their recommended intake.