Nutrition-Related Adverse Outcomes in Endurance Sports Competitions: A Review of Incidence and Practical Recommendations

José Miguel Martínez-Sanz, Ana Fernández Nuñez, Isabel Sospedra, Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez, Raúl Domínguez, José Antonio González-Jurado and Antonio J. Sánchez-Oliver
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José Miguel Martínez-Sanz: Departamento de Enfermería, Grupo de Investigación en Alimentación y Nutrición (ALINUT), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Ana Fernández Nuñez: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Isabel Sospedra: Departamento de Enfermería, Grupo de Investigación en Alimentación y Nutrición (ALINUT), Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Alejandro Martínez-Rodríguez: Analytical Chemistry, Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, Sciences Faculty, University of Alicante, 03690 Alicante, Spain
Raúl Domínguez: Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud de la Universidad Isabel I, 09003 Burgos, Spain
José Antonio González-Jurado: Facultad del Deporte, Universidad Pablo Olavide de Sevilla, 41013 Sevilla, Spain
Antonio J. Sánchez-Oliver: Departamento de Motricidad Humana y Rendimiento Deportivo, Universidad de Sevilla, 41004 Sevilla, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-19

Abstract: During the last few years, the numbers of competitors in endurance and ultra-endurance sports modalities have increased significantly. This type of competition is an extreme challenge for athletes. Therefore, they have an increased the risk of developing medical and nutritional problems. The aim of the work is to estimate the incidence of nutrition-related adverse outcomes in endurance and ultra-endurance sports, considering the variables that influence them. A critical review was carried out based on the PubMed database, by means of a search strategy based on keywords separated by Boolean connectors. For all the results obtained in a period from 2008 to 2019, a series of inclusion/exclusion criteria was applied to select only the studies that fitted the objective of the present study. Results and discussion: Of the 871 publications identified, 33 met the inclusion criteria. The adverse outcomes found included exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH), heat stroke by exertion (EHS), gastrointestinal (GI) problems, dehydration, and hypothermia; the provision of misinformation to athletes about nutrient intake and hydration during competition was identified as the main cause. Conclusions: The main adverse outcomes in endurance and ultra-endurance sports modalities are EAH, GI inconveniences, and EHS. These problems can affect the performance and health status of the athlete during and post-competition. Several nutritional guidelines have been suggested that can prevent these adverse outcomes, and it is essential to individualize and adjust the nutritional intake and hydration status according to the characteristics of each competition.

Keywords: heat stroke; hyponatremia; dehydration; hypothermia; gastrointestinal diseases; sport; athletic performance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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