Study note • PMID 33345095
Dietary Adjustments to Altitude Training in Elite Endurance Athletes; Impact of a Randomized Clinical Trial With Antioxidant-Rich Foods.
How to use this page
This note summarizes one study record. Check the participants, methods, results, and limitations before applying it to training.
- • Design signal: randomized trial.
- • Population relevance: athlete/trained context.
- • Consistency: single-study evidence.
- • Practical recommendation depends on tolerance, context, and whether it protects training consistency.
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 may help, and who should be cautious
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 be cautious
- • 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 and 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.
Adaptive AI coach for iPhone
Meet your adaptive AI coach.
Tell your coach what you are training for. It builds the plan, follows the work you complete, and adapts upcoming training when recovery, your schedule, or real life changes.
Keep going
Performance Science Lab
Research summaries for endurance athletes, with study context, practical protocols, and clear limitations.
Altitude performance research
Altitude can help, but it’s easy to do wrong: the constraint is quality training at reduced oxygen.
Caffeine for endurance performance: a practical protocol
Evidence-informed protocol: Caffeine for endurance performance: a practical protocol. Practical steps, who it helps, and what to watch out for.