From podium to daily practice: A narrative review of energy-based nutrition strategies for athletes and everyday exercisers

Wei Liu; Hua Ai; Xin Li; Jing Yang; Dong Jiang; Cuiqing Chang

doi:10.59717/j.xinn-med.2026.100260

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From podium to daily practice: A narrative review of energy-based nutrition strategies for athletes and everyday exercisers

1.
Department of Sports Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Institute of Sports Medicine of Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
2.
Beijing Key Laboratory of Intelligent Nutrition and Kinesiological Assessment, Beijing 100191, China
3.
Beijing Key Laboratory of Research and Translation for Drugs and Medical Devices in Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Sports Injuries, Beijing 100191, China
4.
Engineering Research Center of Sports Trauma Treatment Technology and Devices, Ministry of Education, Beijing 100191, China
5.
Research Center of Occupational Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China

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Corresponding authors: bysyjiangdong@126.com (D.J.); changcuiqing@126.com (C.C.)
Received Date: November 20, 2025

Accepted Date: September 10, 2026

Published Online: September 11, 2026

The Innovation Medicine https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-med.2026.100260 | Cite this article

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GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

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PUBLIC SUMMARY

PUBLIC SUMMARY
1. Before competitions, an appropriate high-carbohydrate diet to increase glycogen stores can enhance performance.
  
  Avoiding low energy availability is very important for maintaining optimal health and performance.
  
  During competitions, carbohydrate supplementation and carbohydrate mouth rinsing are beneficial.
  
  Post-competition supplementation is essential for recovery, and current evidence suggests that multi-channel carbohydrate intake is particularly effective.
  
  Current evidence does not support the efficacy of high-fat, low-carbohydrate diets or medium-chain triglycerides in significantly enhancing athletic performance.

ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT

Energy support plays a crucial role for athletes and everyday exercisers, with various nutritional strategies being developed to optimize energy metabolism. This review summarizes nutritional approaches related to energy metabolism, including the prevention of low energy availability, carbohydrate supplementation across different competition phases, and approaches to enhance fat oxidation. Avoiding low energy availability is very important for maintaining optimal health and performance; thus, the key is to identify and address the specific underlying causes of the energy deficit. Nutritional supplementation strategies vary across different phases of exercise. Before competitions, an appropriate high-carbohydrate diet to increase glycogen stores can enhance performance. During competitions, carbohydrate supplementation and carbohydrate mouth rinsing are beneficial. Post-competition supplementation is essential for recovery, and current evidence suggests that multiple-transportable carbohydrate intake is particularly effective. Additionally, periodized training with limited carbohydrate availability to boost metabolic adaptation is receiving significant attention; however, more research is still needed to validate its effects. Similarly, although both high-fat low-carbohydrate diets and medium-chain triglycerides may increase fat oxidation rates, current evidence does not support their efficacy in significantly enhancing athletic performance. Overall, individualized and periodized nutrition strategies are essential for optimizing athletic performance and maintaining athlete health.

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Liu W., Ai H., Li X., et al. (2026). From podium to daily practice: A narrative review of energy-based nutrition strategies for athletes and everyday exercisers. The Innovation Medicine 4:100260. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-med.2026.100260

Liu W., Ai H., Li X., et al. (2026). From podium to daily practice: A narrative review of energy-based nutrition strategies for athletes and everyday exercisers. The Innovation Medicine 4:100260. https://doi.org/10.59717/j.xinn-med.2026.100260

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