Athletes’ nutritional demands: a narrative review of nutritional requirements

Abstract

Nutrition serves as the cornerstone of an athlete’s life, exerting a profound impact on their performance and overall well-being. To unlock their full potential, athletes must adhere to a well-balanced diet tailored to their specific nutritional needs. This approach not only enables them to achieve optimal performance levels but also facilitates efficient recovery and reduces the risk of injuries. In addition to maintaining a balanced diet, many athletes also embrace the use of nutritional supplements to complement their dietary intake and support their training goals. These supplements cover a wide range of options, addressing nutrient deficiencies, enhancing recovery, promoting muscle synthesis, boosting energy levels, and optimizing performance in their respective sports or activities. The primary objective of this narrative review is to comprehensively explore the diverse nutritional requirements that athletes face to optimize their performance, recovery, and overall well-being. Through a thorough literature search across databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, we aim to provide evidence-based recommendations and shed light on the optimal daily intakes of carbohydrates, protein, fats, micronutrients, hydration strategies, ergogenic aids, nutritional supplements, and nutrient timing. Furthermore, our aim is to dispel common misconceptions regarding sports nutrition, providing athletes with accurate information and empowering them in their nutritional choices.

Summatory Effects of Anaerobic Exercise and a ‘Westernized Athletic Diet’ on Gut Dysbiosis and Chronic Low-Grade Metabolic Acidosis

“…The actual model of sports nutrition advocates regular intakes of simple carbohydrates, nutritional supplements, and proteins before and after exercise (here defined as 'Westernized athletic nutrition') to restore burning energy and structural protein synthesis [32]. Here, we…”

“…The actual model of sports nutrition advocates regular intakes of simple carbohydrates, nutritional supplements, and proteins before and after exercise (here defined as ‘Westernized athletic nutrition’) to restore burning energy and structural protein synthesis [ 32 ]. Here, we would like to present an alternative viewpoint based on the premise that systemic health is before acute performance to stimulate the innate biological potential (see Figure 1 and Figure 2 ).…”

“…Here, we would like to present an alternative viewpoint based on the premise that systemic health is before acute performance to stimulate the innate biological potential (see Figure 1 and Figure 2 ). Nowadays, human metabolism and energy homeostasis are studied from a mechanistic perspective—that is, “fuel is burned, energy needs to be restored”—this established concept is widely accepted [ 32 ] because it does not characterize human adaptive responses as a living structure where epigenetic modifications exist in a narrow range. In fact, during the last decade, the consumption of nutritional supplements such as fast-absorption carbohydrates or whey proteins has grown exponentially with a reductionist character [ 32 ].…”

Investigating the interrelationships among food habits, sports nutrition knowledge, and perceived barriers to healthy eating: a study of adolescent swimmers

“…Considering the level of autonomy adolescent athletes possess over their diet and physical activities, having a grasp of nutrition can play a pivotal role in cultivating appropriate eating behaviors in this group. Nevertheless, research in diverse cultural settings has exposed gaps in athletes’ nutritional understanding, encompassing both general nutritional aspects ( 24 ) and comprehension of their sport-specific requirements ( 23 , 25 ). These knowledge deficiencies can be amplified by misconceptions about dietary practices ( 23 ) that may stem from superstitions or unreliable advice.…”

Exploring the Experiences and Perspectives of Division III Athletes Regarding Personalized Nutrition Plans for Improved Performance—A Qualitative Investigation

“…Numerous studies have shown that tailored nutritional interventions positively impact performance outcomes [1,[4][5][6][7]. Personalized nutrition, driven by technological advancements and understanding individual differences, aims to provide tailored dietary recommendations based on an individual's unique characteristics and goals [8,9].…”