Nutrition and Training Adaptations in Aquatic Sports

Abstract

The adaptive response to training is determined by the combination of the intensity, volume, and frequency of the training. Various periodized approaches to training are used by aquatic sports athletes to achieve performance peaks. Nutritional support to optimize training adaptations should take periodization into consideration; that is, nutrition should also be periodized to optimally support training and facilitate adaptations. Moreover, other aspects of training (e.g., overload training, tapering and detraining) should be considered when making nutrition recommendations for aquatic athletes. There is evidence, albeit not in aquatic sports, that restricting carbohydrate availability may enhance some training adaptations. More research needs to be performed, particularly in aquatic sports, to determine the optimal strategy for periodizing carbohydrate intake to optimize adaptations. Protein nutrition is an important consideration for optimal training adaptations. Factors other than the total amount of daily protein intake should be considered. For instance, the type of protein, timing and pattern of protein intake and the amount of protein ingested at any one time influence the metabolic response to protein ingestion. Body mass and composition are important for aquatic sport athletes in relation to power-to-mass and for aesthetic reasons. Protein may be particularly important for athletes desiring to maintain muscle while losing body mass. Nutritional supplements, such as b-alanine and sodium bicarbonate, may have particular usefulness for aquatic athletes' training adaptation.

Nutrition Considerations for Open-Water Swimming

“…Training strategies that adapt the muscle to maximize the contribution of fat to energy production during such swimming are encouraged (see Mujika et al, 2014). Nevertheless, in longer races, muscle carbohydrate stores may become limiting, and an exogenous supply of this fuel source is needed to sustain swimming speed.…”

Dietary intake in high-level swimmers. A 32-week prospective cohort study

“…Moreover, even though this study did not intend to report individual data, we observed that several athletes presented a chronic deficit in carbohydrate consumption throughout the season. Thus, although some studies suggest that carbohydrate restriction in specific situations can enhance adaptations to training 22 , carbohydrates are traditionally considered as the fundamental source to energy supply 23 and post-exercise recovery 1 . In other words, it is likely that a chronically low carbohydrate diet has negative effects on conditioning and sports performance.…”

“…Hence, the planning is performed so that athletes can reach their best physical fitness and technique in the most important competition in the season 1 . It is well established that nutrition plays a crucial role in sports performance 2 , since a proper diet providing the athlete's nutritional requirements helps to obtain morphological and physiological adaptations and optimizes performance in training and competitions 1,3,4 .…”

“…Hence, the planning is performed so that athletes can reach their best physical fitness and technique in the most important competition in the season 1 . It is well established that nutrition plays a crucial role in sports performance 2 , since a proper diet providing the athlete's nutritional requirements helps to obtain morphological and physiological adaptations and optimizes performance in training and competitions 1,3,4 . In this sense, the current dietary recommendations demonstrate the importance of energy intake and specific nutrients in each training phase 3 , as an example, during the general preparation phase (high volume and low intensity) emphasis should be given to high energy ingestion.…”

“…In the specific phase (low volume and high intensity) carbohydrate availability should be high, but caloric ingestion needs to be controlled; highlighting the need for an individual and continuously adjusted approach 2 . Some narrative review studies have explored important aspects of nutrition in swimming athletes in relation to the supply of energy and nutrients 1,3,4 . Cross-sectional studies examining the adequacy of nutritional parameters in swimmers present conflicting results 5,6,7 , while longitudinal studies are scarce 8,9 .…”