in the total diet have been listed as 55–70% for
those engaged in exercise and training (Williams
1995). The percentage of energy (E%) derived
from CHO may be helpful in comparison of
dietary intakes, but has limited value for coun-
selling athletes and, if used alone, can be mis-
leading. For example, an endurance cyclist could
consume a diet of 63% energy from CHO which
would normally be considered less than the
recommended level of 70% for the intake of an
athlete engaged in endurance-type exercise. Yet,
when the actual daily intake of approximately
18 g CHO · kg–1body weight (BW) is considered
(Gabelet al.1995), intake of the athlete cycling
14–16 h · day–1is greater than current recommen-
dations. To obtain a greater understanding of
an athlete’s food intake, the optimal analysis
would include values for g CHO · kg–1BW, E%
from CHO and total amount of CHO.
Reports of dietary intakes for female athletes
illustrate a lower than expected energy and CHO
intake in relation to current dietary recommen-
dations for those engaged in exercise and
training. Review of CHO and energy intake in
female athletes (Walberg-Rankin 1995) revealed
consumption of 3.2–5.4 g CHO · kg–1BW · day–1
and energy intakes of 6.4–9.6 MJ · day-^1
(1540–2300 kcal · day-^1 ) for female athletes
involved in anaerobic sports (bodybuilding,
gymnastics, basketball). Ranges of 4.4–6.2 g
CHO · kg–1BW · day–1and 7–10 MJ · day-^1 (1660–
2400 kcal) were reported for those parti-
cipating in aerobic sports (running, cycling,
triathlons). In preparation for a 90-km ultrama-
rathon, 23 South African female runners con-
sumed an average of 49.5% of their energy intake
(7.5 MJ) from CHO or 4 g CHO · kg–1BW · day–1as
part of their training diet (Peters & Goetzsche
1997). The female athletes reported running an
average of 73.4 (±12.1) km · week–1. Dietary
assessments included two 24-h food records
obtained 4 weeks prior to the race and no associa-
tions were found among energy, macro- and
micronutrient intake and performance in the
event. The use of 24-h records limits interpreta-
tion of these results.
420 special considerations
Steenet al.(1995) reported average energy and
CHO intakes of female heavyweight collegiate
rowers below those expected for athletes
engaged in training for 12 h and 2 h of weight
training per week. Average intakes of 11 MJ
(2630 kcal; range, 2025–3858 kcal) and 51% of
energy from CHO (4.9 g · kg–1BW) were esti-
mated from 5-day food records (3 weekdays
and 2 weekend days). Simonsen et al.(1991)
investigated energy needs of 24 collegiate
rowers during 4 weeks of twice daily training
6 days per week. A high-CHO diet providing 10 g
CHO · kg–1BW promoted greater muscle glyco-
gen content and greater power output than a
diet containing 5 g CHO · kg–1BW. However, the
moderate-CHO diet provided a constant level
of muscle glycogen (119 mmol · kg–1) and did
not lead to glycogen depletion or performance
impairment.
Dietary recommendations for CHO intake do
not differentiate for gender nor are the current
CHO dietary recommendations derived from
female athletic populations. Current recommen-
dations include a minimum CHO intake of 5 g ·
kg–1· day–1that has been suggested for a recre-
ational athlete (Clark 1990) and increased levels
for a more competitive athlete. For counselling
women who participate in endurance and
ultra-endurance events, sports nutritionists are
encouraged to use recommendations of more
than 6 g CHO · kg–1BW currently suggested to
athletes involved in endurance sports and a
minimum of 5 g CHO · kg–1BW for other female
athletes. Researchers are encouraged to pursue
the question of macro-nutrient needs of female
athletes at all levels of exercise intensity and
related performance.
It is worth repeating the advice for analysing
the female athlete’s food intake using values of g
CHO · kg–1BW, E% from CHO and total amount
of CHO. The findings from Simonsen et al.(1991)
suggested that 10 g CHO · kg–1BW will pro-
mote greater muscle glycogen content and
power output. If this CHO recommendation was
used for a female rower who weighed 60 kg,
consider the ramifications.