What is it about?
This position statement represents the current state of scientific knowledge regarding the recommended daily fat intake of athletes. As opposed to the intake of carbohydrates and proteins, no recommendation has so far been established for sports-specific fat intake in absolute numbers (grams per kilo of body weight and day). However, there is consensus among scientific sports medicine associations that fat consumption should not exceed 30% of the energy intake (E%), nor fall below 20 E%, particularly in endurance sports.
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Why is it important?
The lower limit of 20% of energy intake as fat is meant to ensure that: - an adequate amount of essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins is supplied/absorbed, - the person feels satiated between meals, and - the intramuscular triglycerides are replenished after long-lasting physical exercise.
Perspectives
Fat-loading strategies like the ketogenic diet which are practiced before competitions by some athletes are not advisable, as there is no scientific evidence of improvement in either endurance or sprint/strength performance. Moreover, the food choice is unbalanced and the extensive restriction of carbohydrate intake not in accordance with the internationally-accepted nutritional guidelines for athletes.
Alexandra Schek
University of Giessen, Germany
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Position of the working group sports nutrition of the German Nutrition Society (DGE): fats, fat loading, and sports performance, German Journal of Sports Medicine, September 2020, Deutsche Zeitschrift Fur Sportmedizin,
DOI: 10.5960/dzsm.2020.448.
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