Sprinters versus bodybuilders: nutrition needs

Question
hello



What is the diffrence in  sprinter (Athelte) and bodybuilders diet?

Are sprinters diet at maintance level or surplus like bodybuilders?

best

Aaron

Answer
Aaron, you might be surprised but there's not much of a difference since sprinters unlike long distance runners need to build up their muscle mass and should include strength training in their exercise routine (note that it's not the same as bodybuilding training). Because of that, their eating plans can be almost as much protein demanding as weight lifters'.

In a recent review (Pendergast et al., Eur J Appl Physiol (2011) 111:379?90), the authors proposed "that for submaximal exercise, the balance of carbohydrates and fat favors fat for longer exercise and carbohydrates for shorter exercise, while always maintaining the minimal requirements of each (carbohydrates: 40% and fat: 30%)".  The protein minimal requirement (above 15%) was recommended along with creatine supplementation for resistance exercise.

On the other hand, sprinters have low count of type I fibers (oxidative, slow) and low aerobic capacity (VO2 max) while endurance runners have low count of type II fibers (glycolytic, fast) so, logically, it does make sense that a diet high in fat (55%-60%) intramuscular lipids in endurance runners, but not in sprinters. Importantly, in endurance athletes, who are exceptionally insulin sensitive, intramuscular lipid level is increased to begin with indicating that, though those lipids are generally associated with insulin resistance, a high count of of type 1 oxidative fibers somehow make the high fat load safer for the endurance runners. A low-fat diet (18%-23%) did not change muscle biochemistry.

Tanya Zilberter  

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