For the best performance of athletes, nutrition is essential. Many diet patterns have been developed and endorsed by professional athletes. A recent study in Nutrients assessed the existing research on diets and their impact on athletic performance.
Background
Nutrition is essential for the performance and recovery of athletes. The American College of Sports Medicine, American Dietetic Association, and Dietitians of Canada recommend food and fluids that provide athletes with nourishment and energy for their training and recovery.
Athletes are exposed to various diet patterns and nutrition through social media, peers, and coaches. Some of the most researched diets include the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets, intermittent fasting, and vegetarian and plant-based diets.
About the study
The study critically analyzed the literature on the above-mentioned diets, describing the content of the diet, feasibility for adherence, potential drawbacks, and impact on sports performance.
The study focused on the five most common dietary patterns from the PubMed search and did not discuss all diets and their impacts on athletic performance.
Narrative and systematic reviews and meta-analyses from 2015–2022 were considered, along with the primary literature cited within these works.
Key findings
The MedDiet has been recommended for performance and body composition. It provides necessary nutritional support, supports training and performance gains, and promotes weight loss if needed.
Athletes adhering to the MedDiet have seen gains in aerobic and anaerobic performance, making it beneficial for power and endurance athletes. Adherence is relatively easier compared to other diets due to the wide range of foods within the MedDiet.
The ketogenic diet (KD) is high in fat, low in carbohydrates, and moderate in protein. Existing literature suggests that KD has little impact on maximum aerobic capacity. Athletes adhering to KD may experience performance decrements in strength training and may have reduced muscle mass.
Low-carbohydrate diets, including KD, have not shown changes in athletic performance. They promote adherence due to fewer restrictions. Future research should explore more sport-specific alterations to performance.
Vegetarian diets range from veganism, which excludes animal or animal by-products, to vegetarianism, which includes eggs and dairy. These diets have benefits but may lead to micronutrient deficiencies in athletes, the impact of which is unclear in the literature.
Intermittent fasting (IF) involves restricted eating at certain hours of the day or fasting for a full day or multiple days at a time. Overall, the risks of IF may outweigh its benefits among athletes. More research is needed on the impact of IF on performance.
Conclusion
The MedDiet showed extensive research on improvements in performance and diet adherence. Low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diets have not been shown to be detrimental to athletic performance. Vegans and vegetarians could suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, and more research is needed on the impact on performance. Intermittent fasting has been shown to reduce athletic performance levels and requires more research.Â