VIDEO: Tweaking nutrition to optimize sports performance

CHICAGO — An hourlong session at NUTRITION spotlighted several studies that investigated different approaches to enhancing exercise performance by manipulating diet and nutrition.

One of the studies examined whether a ketone monoester and carbohydrate supplement increased erythropoietin during recovery of aerobic exercise, while another suggested that a version the keto diet — high fat, low carbohydrates — had no impact on the physical performance of military personnel.

A third study showed declines in iron levels among male and female U.S. Army recruits during basic combat training due to inflammation, and additional research suggested that women who use oral contraceptives experience changes in metabolism during exercise.

In a video interview with Healio, Tianou Zhang, PhD, an assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Texas at San Antonio who chaired the session, provided important takeaways from the studies and what the findings taken as a whole mean in terms of optimizing exercise performance.

References:

• Allen JT, et al. PTFS20-04-24. Presented at: NUTRITION; June 29-July 2, 2024.
• Barney DE, et al. PTFS20-03-24. Presented at: NUTRITION; June 29-July 2, 2024.
• Dawson MA, et al. PTFS20-05-24. Presented at: NUTRITION; June 29-July 2, 2024.
• Ortega-Santos C, et al. PTFS20-02-24. Presented at: NUTRITION; June 29-July 2, 2024.
• Rathod NM, et al. PTFS20-01-24. Presented at: NUTRITION; June 29-July 2, 2024.