Relationship of Carbohydrate Intake during a Single-Stage One-Day Ultra-Trail Race with Fatigue Outcomes and Gastrointestinal Problems: A Systematic Review

Soledad Arribalzaga, Aitor Viribay, Julio Calleja-González, Diego Fernández-Lázaro, Arkaitz Castañeda-Babarro and Juan Mielgo-Ayuso
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Soledad Arribalzaga: Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Physiotherapy Department, University of Leon, 24071 Leon, Spain
Aitor Viribay: Glut4Science, Physiology, Nutrition and Sport, 01004 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
Julio Calleja-González: Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 01007 Vitoria, Spain
Diego Fernández-Lázaro: Department of Cellular Biology, Histology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Valladolid, 42003 Soria, Spain
Arkaitz Castañeda-Babarro: Health, Physical Activity and Sports Science Laboratory, Department of Physical Activity and Sports, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Deusto, 48007 Bizkaia, Spain
Juan Mielgo-Ayuso: Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Burgos, 09001 Burgos, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: Due to the high metabolic and physical demands in single-stage one-day ultra-trail (SOUT) races, athletes should be properly prepared in both physical and nutritional aspects in order to delay fatigue and avoid associated difficulties. However, high carbohydrate (CHO) intake would seem to increase gastrointestinal (GI) problems. The main purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate CHO intake during SOUT events as well as its relationship with fatigue (in terms of internal exercise load, exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) and post-exercise recovery) and GI problems. A structured search was carried out in accordance with PRISMA guidelines in the following: Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases up to 16 March 2021. After conducting the search and applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria, eight articles in total were included in this systematic review, in all of which CHO intake involved gels, energy bars and sports drinks. Two studies associated higher CHO consumption (120 g/h) with an improvement in internal exercise load. Likewise, these studies observed that SOUT runners whose intake was 120 g/h could benefit by limiting the EIMD observed by CK (creatine kinase), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) and GOT (aspartate aminotransferase), and also improve recovery of high intensity running capacity 24 h after a trail marathon. In six studies, athletes had GI symptoms between 65–82%. In summary, most of the runners did not meet CHO intake standard recommendations for SOUT events (90 g/h), while athletes who consumed more CHO experienced a reduction in internal exercise load, limited EIMD and improvement in post-exercise recovery. Conversely, the GI symptoms were recurrent in SOUT athletes depending on altitude, environmental conditions and running speed. Therefore, a high CHO intake during SOUT events is important to delay fatigue and avoid GI complications, and to ensure high intake, it is necessary to implement intestinal training protocols.

Keywords: marathon trail; recovery; food intake; ultramarathon; carbohydrates; GI symptoms (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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