Guidelines for daily carbohydrate intake - Do athletes achieve them?

Official dietary guidelines for athletes are unanimous in their recommendat ion of high carbohydrate (CHO) intakes in routine or training diets. These guidelines have been criticised on the basis of a lack of scientific suppor t for superior training adaptations and performance, and the apparent failu re of successful athletes to achieve such dietary practices. Part of the pr oblem rests with the expression of CHO intake guidelines in terms of percen tage of dietary energy. It is preferable to provide recommendations fur rou tine CHO intake in grams (relative to the body mass of the athlete) and all ow flexibility for the athlete to meet these targets within the context of their energy needs and other dietary goals. CHO intake ranges of 5 to 7 g/k g/day for general training needs and 7 to 10 g/kg/day for the increased nee ds of endurance athletes are suggested. The limitations of dietary survey t echniques should be recognised when assessing the adequacy of the dietary p ractices of athletes. In particular, the errors caused by under-reporting o r undereating during the period of the dietary survey must be taken into ac count. A review of the current dietary survey literature of athletes shows that a typical. male athlete achieves CHO intake within the recommended range (on a g/kg basis). Individual athletes may need nutritional education or dietar y counselling to fine-tune their eating habits to meet specific CHO intake targets. Female athletes, particularly endurance athletes, are less likely to achieve these CHO intake guidelines. This is due to chronic or periodic restriction of total energy intake in order to achieve or maintain low leve ls of body fat. With professional counselling, female athletes may be helpe d to find a balance between bodyweight control issues and fuel intake goals . Although we look to the top athletes as role models, it is understandable t hat many do not achieve optimal nutrition practices. The real or apparent f ailure of these athletes to achieve the daily CHO intakes recommended by sp orts nutritionists does not necessarily invalidate the benefits of meeting such guidelines. Further longitudinal studies of training adaptation and pe rformance are needed to determine differences in the outcomes of high versu s moderate CHO intakes. In the meantime, the recommendations of sports nutr itionists are based on plentiful evidence that increased CHO availability e nhances endurance and performance during single exercise sessions.