Study note • PMID 33345095
Dietary Adjustments to Altitude Training in Elite Endurance Athletes; Impact of a Randomized Clinical Trial With Antioxidant-Rich Foods.
Worth trying if it fits your goal and context.
ELI5
In plain language
We investigated whether athletes adjust their dietary intake according to the IOC's altitude-specific dietary recommendations, and whether an in-between meal intervention with antioxidant-rich foods altered the athletes' dietary composition… (randomized trial; elite athletes).
The abstract doesn’t indicate a clear change in VO₂max, Time-trial performance under the tested conditions. Treat this as a signal, not a guarantee; confirm methods and context in the full paper.
Takeaways
What the abstract suggests
- • Study question: We investigated whether athletes adjust their dietary intake according to the IOC's altitude-specific dietary recommendations, and whether an in-between meal intervention with antioxidant-rich foods altered the athletes' dietary composition…
- • The abstract doesn’t indicate a clear change in VO₂max, Time-trial performance under the tested conditions.
- • Population: elite athletes.
- • Protocol cues (title/abstract): 1.8 g/kg • 2.1 g/kg • 3 weeks • 320 m.
Protocol
Protocol (as reported)
- • Intervention/exposure: altitude (vs control group).
- • Dose/time/duration cues in abstract/title: 1.8 g/kg • 2.1 g/kg • 3 weeks • 320 m.
- • Outcomes: VO₂max, Time-trial performance.
- • Replication note: abstracts often omit adherence and timing; confirm details before changing training or supplementation.
Fit
Who it helps, and who should skip it
Who it helps
- • Athletes similar to the study population (elite athletes) working on altitude.
- • Athletes who can measure VO₂max, Time-trial performance with a repeatable workout or time-trial effort.
Who should skip
- • If you have symptoms or conditions that make the intervention risky, get professional guidance.
- • If you’re near race day and can’t safely test, defer the experiment.
Methods
What the study actually did
- • Design: randomized trial.
- • Population: elite athletes.
- • Comparator: control group.
- • Outcomes measured: VO₂max, Time-trial performance.
- • Protocol cues mentioned: 1.8 g/kg • 2.1 g/kg • 3 weeks • 320 m.
- • Source: PubMed PMID 33345095 (2020) — Frontiers in sports and active living.
Results excerpt
What the abstract reports
“Carbohydrate intake increased from 6.5 +/- 1.8 g/kg body weight (BW) (50 E%) to 9.3 +/- 2.1 g/kg BW (53 E%) (p < 0.001), with no difference between the antioxidant and control group.”
Note: excerpts are short; for full context, read the paper.
Limits
Limitations & bias
- • Abstract-only summaries can miss critical details (population, protocol, adherence, and context).
- • Single studies often don’t generalize to your event, history, and training load; treat results as a starting point.
- • If your context differs (elite vs recreational; cycling vs running), adjust expectations and be conservative.
- • This is performance information, not medical advice.
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