Nutritional Considerations for Para-Cycling Athletes: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Para-cycling is a sport including athletes with different disabilities competing on the track and on the roads using bicycles, tandems, tricycles, and handbikes. Scientific literature in this special population is scarce, especially in the field of sports nutrition. This review summarizes the physiological aspects and demands of para-cycling. This information together with the existing literature on nutritional interventions in this population, helps to discuss the nutritional considerations. To date, only a limited amount of recommendations are available for this population. In most para-cycling athletes, a reduction in active muscle mass and consequently a reduction in resting energy expenditure occurs, except for visually impaired athletes. Furthermore, carbohydrate and protein intake and hydration, supplementation, heat, and weight loss need to be tailored to the disability-specific adaptations such as the reduced active muscle mass, neurogenic bladder, and bowel, a reduced metabolic cost during exercise, and a higher risk of micronutrient deficiency.

Gold Medals, Silver Medals, Bronze Medals, and Total Medals: An Analysis of Summer Paralympic Games from 1992 to 2016

“…An individual’s eating strategies can significantly influence their physical performance [ 64 ]. A nutritional plan for athletes should be differentiated according to their disability, sport, frequency and intensity of exercise, and occupation [ 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 ].…”

“…A prior knowledge of these issues allows adjusting and adapting the structure of the training plan to the conditions that the athlete will find in the competition and the reorganization of future events. An individual's eating strategies can significantly influence their physical performance [64]. A nutritional plan for athletes should be differentiated according to their disability, sport, frequency and intensity of exercise, and occupation [65][66][67][68].…”

The feasibility of a randomized controlled crossover trial to assess the effect of probiotic and prebiotic supplementation on the health of elite wheelchair athletes

“…Gastrointestinal (GI) problems are highly prevalent and represent a health burden among Para athletes (1,2). Typical GI problems include bloating, nausea, and related limited nutritional intake, which can hinder optimal performance among able-bodied athletes and even more among Para athletes (3,4). Prolonged strenuous exercise, especially in humid and hot conditions, can further increase the occurrence of GI discomfort (5,6).…”

“…GI motility disorders, including delayed gastric emptying, and neurogenic bowel dysfunction, including constipation, are especially common among individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI) (7,8). Reduced energy expenditure and energy availability, nutrient deficiencies, and prolonged bowel transit times could also play a role in developing GI complaints in athletes with a SCI (3,9).…”

Nutritional Practices and Body Composition of South African National-Level Spinal Cord-Injured Endurance Hand Cyclists

“…This was evident in the most recent 2020 Summer Paralympic Games, which saw the highest number of athletes (4403) competing to date [ 1 ]. An optimal nutritional status including optimal dietary intake and body composition (optimal body fat percentage, lean mass and bone mineral density) is important for the health and athletic performance of able-bodied athletes [ 2 ] and is equally important for Paralympic athletes [ 3 ]. This is especially true considering that Paralympic athletes are at a two-fold greater risk of illness than Olympic athletes [ 4 ].…”