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Pre and post-exercise nutritional practices of amateur runners in the UK: are they meeting the guidelines for optimal carbohydrate and protein intakes?

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Tom Clifford

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate amateur runners’ knowledge and practices of the current sports nutrition guidelines for pre and post-event carbohydrate (CHO) and protein (PRO) intakes.Data was collected from 100 amateur runners using an online survey. Participants provided demographic information, a dietary recall of their intake 24 (n=49) and 1–4 h before and immediately after a long-distance run (≥60–90 min in duration) for analysis of CHO and PRO contents (n=82). They also answered questions about their knowledge of the current CHO and PRO recommendations and their primary sources of nutrition information.CHO intake 24-h pre-exercise (3.3±1.7 g kg day−1) was lower than the currently recommended intakes of 10–12g kg−1 for effective CHO loading (P=0.001). Average CHO intake 1–4 h pre-exercise (1.2±0.6 g kg−1) were within the recommended amounts>1.0 g kg-1 (P>0.05); however, only 60% of participants consumed≥1.0 g kg−1. Post-exercise CHO intakes (1.1±0.8 g kg−1) were not different from the recommended guidelines≥1.0 g kg−1 (P=0.190) but only ~ 48% of participants achieved this target. Average PRO intake post-exercise exceeded the minimum recommended guidelines (≥0.25g kg−1) by ~ 0.15 g kg−1 (P=0.001); however, only ~ 75% of participants consumed≥0.25 g kg−1. Overall, knowledge of the current CHO and PRO intakes pre and post-exercise were poor, with <5% of participants selecting the correct answers.This study suggests that amateur runners are largely unaware of the current sport nutrition guidelines and preexercise intake of CHO (24 h pre) is sub-optimal.

Publication metadata

Author(s): McLeman LA, Ratcliffe K, Clifford T

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Sports Sciences For Health

Year: 2019

Volume: 15

Pages: 511-517

Online publication date: 25/02/2019

Acceptance date: 11/02/2019

Date deposited: 25/02/2019

ISSN (print): 1824-7490

ISSN (electronic): 1825-1234

Publisher: Springer Milan

URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-019-00537-1

DOI: 10.1007/s11332-019-00537-1

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