Nutritional Strategies for Optimizing Health, Sports Performance, and Recovery for Female Athletes and Other Physically Active Women: A Systematic Review

  1. Larrosa, Mar 6
  2. Gil-Izquierdo, Angel 1122
  3. González-Rodríguez, Liliana Guadalupe 66
  4. Alférez, María José Muñoz 12
  5. San Juan, Alejandro F 8
  6. Sánchez-Gómez, Ángela 17
  7. Calvo-Ayuso, Natalia 4
  8. Ramos-Álvarez, Juan José 6
  9. Fernández-Lázaro, Diego 1919
  10. Lopez-Grueso, Raúl 5
  11. López-León, Inmaculada 2
  12. Moreno-Lara, Javier 2
  13. Domínguez-Balmaseda, Diego 9
  14. Illescas-Quiroga, Román 18
  15. Cuenca, Eduardo 13
  16. López, Teba 13
  17. Montoya, Juan José 6
  18. Rodrigues-de-Souza, Daiana Priscila 1717
  19. Carrillo-Alvarez, Elena 14
  20. Casado, Arturo 16
  21. Rodriguez-Doñate, Belén 2324
  22. Porta-Oliva, Mireia 252627
  23. Santiago, Catalina 9
  24. Iturriaga, Támara 9
  25. De Lucas, Beatriz 9
  26. Solaesa, Ángela García 15
  27. Montero-López, María del Pilar 21
  28. Benítez De Gracia, Elvira 10
  29. Veiga-Herreros, Pablo 10
  30. Muñoz-López, Alejandro 2
  31. Orantes-Gonzalez, Eva 1
  32. Barbero-Alvarez, José Carlos 12
  33. Cabeza-Ruiz, Ruth 2
  34. Carnero-Diaz, Ángel 2
  35. Sospedra, Isabel 11
  36. Fernández-Galván, Luis Miguel 7
  37. Martínez-Sanz, José Miguel 11
  38. Martín-Almena, Francisco Javier 15
  39. Pérez, Margarita 8
  40. Guerra-Hernández, Eduardo J 12
  41. López-Samanes, Álvaro 20
  42. Sánchez-Oliver, Antonio Jesús 23
  43. Domínguez, Raúl 23
  44. Show all authors +
  1. 1 Universidad Pablo de Olavide
    info

    Universidad Pablo de Olavide

    Sevilla, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02z749649

  2. 2 Universidad de Sevilla
    info

    Universidad de Sevilla

    Sevilla, España

    ROR https://ror.org/03yxnpp24

  3. 3 Universidade Federal de Lavras
    info

    Universidade Federal de Lavras

    Lavras, Brasil

    ROR https://ror.org/0122bmm03

  4. 4 Universidad de León
    info

    Universidad de León

    León, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02tzt0b78

  5. 5 Universidad Internacional Isabel I de Castilla
    info

    Universidad Internacional Isabel I de Castilla

    Burgos, España

    ROR https://ror.org/055sgt471

  6. 6 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Complutense de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR 02p0gd045

  7. 7 Universitat Jaume I
    info

    Universitat Jaume I

    Castelló de la Plana, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02ws1xc11

  8. 8 Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/03n6nwv02

  9. 9 Universidad Europea de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Europea de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04dp46240

  10. 10 Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio
    info

    Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio

    Villanueva de la Cañada, España

    ROR https://ror.org/054ewwr15

  11. 11 Universitat d'Alacant
    info

    Universitat d'Alacant

    Alicante, España

    ROR https://ror.org/05t8bcz72

  12. 12 Universidad de Granada
    info

    Universidad de Granada

    Granada, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04njjy449

  13. 13 Academia de Guardias y Suboficiales de la Guardia Civil, 23440 Baeza, Spain
  14. 14 Universitat Ramon Llull
    info

    Universitat Ramon Llull

    Barcelona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04p9k2z50

  15. 15 Universidad Católica Santa Teresa de Jesús de Ávila
    info

    Universidad Católica Santa Teresa de Jesús de Ávila

    Ávila, España

    ROR https://ror.org/05wa62164

  16. 16 Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
    info

    Universidad Rey Juan Carlos

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01v5cv687

  17. 17 Universidad de Córdoba
    info

    Universidad de Córdoba

    Córdoba, España

    ROR https://ror.org/05yc77b46

  18. 18 Universidad de Alcalá
    info

    Universidad de Alcalá

    Alcalá de Henares, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04pmn0e78

  19. 19 Universidad de Valladolid
    info

    Universidad de Valladolid

    Valladolid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01fvbaw18

  20. 20 Universidad Pontificia Comillas
    info

    Universidad Pontificia Comillas

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/017mdc710

  21. 21 Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01cby8j38

  22. 22 Universidad de Murcia
    info

    Universidad de Murcia

    Murcia, España

    ROR https://ror.org/03p3aeb86

  23. 23 Comité Paralímpico Español, 528040 Madrid, Spain
  24. 24 Tu Gestor de Salud, 28001 Madrid, Spain
  25. 25 Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
    info

    Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

    Barcelona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/052g8jq94

  26. 26 FC Barcelona Medical Department, FC Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
  27. 27 Catalan School of Kinanthropometry, INEFC, 0838 Barcelona, Spain
Show affiliations +
Journal:
Nutrition Reviews

ISSN: 0029-6643,  1753-4887

Year of publication: 2024

Type: Review

DOI: 10.1093/NUTRIT/NUAE082 WoS: WOS:001269733000001 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Nutrition Reviews

Abstract

Context: Despite the progress toward gender equality in events like the OlympicGames and other institutionalized competitions, and the rising number of womenengaging in physical exercise programs, scientific studies focused on establishingspecific nutritional recommendations for female athletes and other physicallyactive women are scarce. Objective: This systematic review aimed to compile thescientific evidence available for addressing the question “What dietary strategies,including dietary and supplementation approaches, can improve sports performance, recovery, and health status in female athletes and other physically activewomen?” Data Sources: The Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus databaseswere searched. Data Extraction: The review process involved a comprehensivesearch strategy using keywords connected by Boolean connectors. Data extractedfrom the selected studies included information on the number of participants andtheir characteristics related to sport practice, age, and menstrual function. DataAnalysis: A total of 71 studies were included in this review: 17 focused on theanalysis of dietary manipulation, and 54 focused on the effects of dietary supplementation. The total sample size was 1654 participants (32.5% categorized ascompetitive athletes, 30.7% as highly/moderately trained, and 37.2% as physicallyactive/recreational athletes). The risk of bias was considered moderate, mainly forreasons such as a lack of access to the study protocol, insufficient description ofhow the hormonal phase during the menstrual cycle was controlled for, inadequate dietary control during the intervention, or a lack of blinding of the researchers. Conclusion: Diets with high carbohydrate (CHO) content enhanceperformance in activities that induce muscle glycogen depletion. In addition, preexercise meals with a high glycemic index or rich in CHOs increase CHO metabolism. Ingestion of 5–6 protein meals interspersed throughout the day, with eachintake exceeding 25 g of protein favors anabolism of muscle proteins. Dietary supplements taken to enhance performance, such as caffeine, nitric oxide precursors,b-alanine, and certain sport foods supplements (such as CHOs, proteins, or theircombination, and micronutrients in cases of nutritional deficiencies), may positivelyinfluence sports performance and/or the health status of female athletes and otherphysically active women

€ View funding

Funding information

This article is an outcome of the study “Red de Nutrición Aplicada a la Mujer Deportista (NAMUD) (code 21/UPB/23),” which was funded in the Convocatoria “Redes de Investigación en Ciencias del Deporte para el año 2023 funded by the Consejo Superior de Deportes y el Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte del Gobierno de Espana.

Funders

  • Consejo Superior de Deportes y el Ministerio de Cultura y Deporte del Gobierno de España

Bibliographic References

  • Cultura y Deporte
  • Hunter, (2023), Transl J Am Coll Sports Med, 8, pp. 1
  • Fernández-Díaz, (2016), Rev Andal Med Deport, 9, pp. 131, 10.1016/j.ramd.2015.02.011
  • Epstein, (2015), J Strength Cond Res, 29(suppl 11), pp. S107, 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001079
  • Sims, (2023), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 20, pp. 2204066, 10.1080/15502783.2023.2204066
  • Tiller, (2021), Sports Med, 51, pp. 895, 10.1007/s40279-020-01417-2
  • Nuzzo, (2023), J Strength Cond Res, 37, pp. 494, 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004329
  • Sims, (2018), Exp Physiol, 103, pp. 1309, 10.1113/EP086797
  • Sims, (2021), BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med, 7, pp. e001047, 10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001047
  • Polotsky, (2010), Semin Reprod Med, 28, pp. 426, 10.1055/s-0030-1262902
  • Collins, (2021), Br J Sports Med, 55, pp. 416, 10.1136/bjsports-2019-101961
  • Thomas, (2016), Med Sci Sports Exerc, 48, pp. 543
  • Kuikman, (2023), Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 33, pp. 198, 10.1123/ijsnem.2022-0214
  • Smith, (2022), Nutrients, 14, pp. 953, 10.3390/nu14050953
  • Shamseer, (2015), BMJ, 350, pp. g7647, 10.1136/bmj.g7647
  • Brown, (2006), BMJ, 333, pp. 804, 10.1136/bmj.38987.492014.94
  • Sterne, (2019), BMJ, 366, pp. L4898, 10.1136/bmj.l4898
  • Vargas-Molina, (2022), Int J Environ Res Public Health, 19, pp. 12629, 10.3390/ijerph191912629
  • Antonio, (2018), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 15, pp. 6, 10.1186/s12970-018-0210-6
  • Arciero, (2016), Nutrients, 8, pp. 332, 10.3390/nu8060332
  • Campbell, (2018), Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 28, pp. 580, 10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0389
  • Strandberg, (2019), J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 74, pp. 489, 10.1093/gerona/gly130
  • De Souza, (2022), Am J Clin Nutr, 115, pp. 1457, 10.1093/ajcn/nqac044
  • Miralles-Amorós, (2023), Children (Basel), 10, pp. 259
  • Walker, (2000), J Appl Physiol (1985), 88, pp. 2151, 10.1152/jappl.2000.88.6.2151
  • Reznik Dolins, (2003), Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 13, pp. 422, 10.1123/ijsnem.13.4.422
  • McLay, (2007), Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 17, pp. 189, 10.1123/ijsnem.17.2.189
  • Martínez-Rodríguez, (2021), Int J Environ Res Public Health, 18, pp. 6431, 10.3390/ijerph18126431
  • Stevenson, (2006), Am J Clin Nutr, 84, pp. 354, 10.1093/ajcn/84.2.354
  • Stevenson, (2008), Eur J Clin Nutr, 62, pp. 608, 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602759
  • Wynne, (2021), Eur J Appl Physiol, 121, pp. 1125, 10.1007/s00421-021-04597-5
  • Ormsbee, (2016), Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 41, pp. 719, 10.1139/apnm-2015-0526
  • Haakonssen, (2014), Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 24, pp. 553, 10.1123/ijsnem.2014-0069
  • Haakonssen, (2015), PLoS One, 10, pp. e0123302, 10.1371/journal.pone.0123302
  • Zeng, (2020), Antioxidants (Basel), 10, pp. 3, 10.3390/antiox10010003
  • McClung, (2009), Am J Clin Nutr, 90, pp. 124, 10.3945/ajcn.2009.27774
  • DellaValle, (2014), Med Sci Sports Exerc, 46, pp. 1204, 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000208
  • Sandroni, (2022), J Diet Suppl, 19, pp. 366, 10.1080/19390211.2021.1887423
  • Hoch, (2009), J Sports Sci Med, 8, pp. 123
  • Taghiyar, (2013), Int J Prev Med, 4(suppl 1), pp. 16
  • Taghiyar, (2013), Int J Prev Med, 4(suppl 1), pp. 24
  • Mock, (2021), J Strength Cond Res, 35, pp. 124, 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002560
  • Hida, (2012), Nutrients, 4, pp. 1504, 10.3390/nu4101504
  • Taylor, (2016), Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 41, pp. 249, 10.1139/apnm-2015-0463
  • Wilborn, (2016), Ann Nutr Metab, 69, pp. 190, 10.1159/000452845
  • Gratwicke, (2023), Biol Sport, 40, pp. 449, 10.5114/biolsport.2023.116002
  • Ramírez-Campillo, (2016), J Sci Med Sport, 19, pp. 682, 10.1016/j.jsams.2015.10.005
  • Gordon, (2023), Nutrients, 15, pp. 3567, 10.3390/nu15163567
  • Glenn, (2015), Amino Acids, 47, pp. 2593, 10.1007/s00726-015-2050-x
  • Smith, (2012), Amino Acids, 43, pp. 77, 10.1007/s00726-011-1158-x
  • Köhne, (2016), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 13, pp. 44, 10.1186/s12970-016-0156-5
  • Toohey, (2020), J Strength Cond Res, 34, pp. 3173, 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002675
  • McKinley-Barnard, (2018), J Strength Cond Res, 32, pp. 1601, 10.1519/JSC.0000000000002247
  • Brown, (2019), Eur J Sport Sci, 19, pp. 95, 10.1080/17461391.2018.1502360
  • Livolsi, (2001), J Strength Cond Res, 15, pp. 161
  • McCleave, (2011), J Strength Cond Res, 25, pp. 879, 10.1519/JSC.0b013e318207e98c
  • Miles, (2021), Med Sci Sports Exerc, 53, pp. 2618, 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002743
  • Lara, (2014), Amino Acids, 46, pp. 1385, 10.1007/s00726-014-1709-z
  • Lara, (2020), Br J Clin Pharmacol, 86, pp. 745, 10.1111/bcp.14175
  • Romero-Moraleda, (2019), Nutrients, 11, pp. 2662, 10.3390/nu11112662
  • Filip-Stachnik, (2020), Nutrients, 12, pp. 3813, 10.3390/nu12123813
  • Ali, (2015), Int J Sports Med, 36, pp. 433, 10.1055/s-0034-1398580
  • Ali, (2016), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 13, pp. 46, 10.1186/s12970-016-0157-4
  • Norum, (2020), Scand J Med Sci Sports, 30, pp. 2116, 10.1111/sms.13776
  • Bougrine, (2023), Nutrients, 15, pp. 3432, 10.3390/nu15153432
  • Karayigit, (2020), Nutrients, 13, pp. 2, 10.3390/nu13010002
  • Pereira, (2021), Int J Sports Med, 42, pp. 147, 10.1055/a-1212-0742
  • Gutiérrez-Hellín, (2022), Nutrients, 14, pp. 4352, 10.3390/nu14204352
  • Cox, (2002), Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 12, pp. 33, 10.1123/ijsnem.12.1.33
  • Brooks, (2023), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 20, pp. 2193556, 10.1080/15502783.2023.2193556
  • Hemmatinafar, (2023), Nutrients, 15, pp. 3763, 10.3390/nu15173763
  • Jurado-Castro, (2022), Sports Health, 14, pp. 812, 10.1177/19417381221083590
  • López-Samanes, (2023), Eur J Nutr, 62, pp. 1123, 10.1007/s00394-022-03052-1
  • Glenn, (2016), Eur J Sport Sci, 16, pp. 1095, 10.1080/17461391.2016.1158321
  • Gills, (2023), J Strength Cond Res, 37, pp. 1225, 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004095
  • Tan, (2010), Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 20, pp. 198, 10.1123/ijsnem.20.3.198
  • Cameron, (2018), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 15, pp. 1, 10.1186/s12970-017-0206-7
  • Sousa, (2020), Sci Rep, 10, pp. 10703, 10.1038/s41598-020-67577-3
  • Skarpańska-Stejnborn, (2020), Nutrients, 13, pp. 118, 10.3390/nu13010118
  • Cieślicka, (2022), Nutrients, 15, pp. 186, 10.3390/nu15010186
  • Brinkworth, (2002), Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 12, pp. 349, 10.1123/ijsnem.12.3.349
  • Brinkworth, (2004), Eur J Appl Physiol, 91, pp. 353, 10.1007/s00421-003-1023-z
  • Bellafiore, (2021), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 18, pp. 43, 10.1186/s12970-021-00444-2
  • Salehi, (2021), Int J Prev Med, 12, pp. 94, 10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_138_20
  • Farjallah, (2018), Physiol Int, 105, pp. 358, 10.1556/2060.105.2018.4.24
  • Maughan, (2018), Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 28, pp. 104, 10.1123/ijsnem.2018-0020
  • Glenn, (2015), J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo), 61, pp. 161, 10.3177/jnsv.61.161
  • Glenn, (2016), J Strength Cond Res, 30, pp. 200, 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001077
  • Rosas, (2017), J Hum Kinet, 58, pp. 99, 10.1515/hukin-2017-0072
  • Maughan, (2018), Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 28, pp. 212, 10.1123/ijsnem.2018-0009
  • AIS, (2021)
  • Kerksick, (2018), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 15, pp. 38, 10.1186/s12970-018-0242-y
  • Ahlborg, (1967), Acta Physiol Scand, 70, pp. 129, 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1967.tb03608.x
  • Bergström, (1967), Acta Physiol Scand, 71, pp. 140, 10.1111/j.1748-1716.1967.tb03720.x
  • American College of Sport Medicine, (2000), Med Sci Sports Exerc, 32, pp. 2130
  • Hollenbeck, (1986), Diabetes Care, 9, pp. 641, 10.2337/diacare.9.6.641
  • Bentley, (2007), Sports Med, 37, pp. 575, 10.2165/00007256-200737070-00002
  • Guillemant, (2004), Calcif Tissue Int, 74, pp. 407, 10.1007/s00223-003-0070-0
  • Campos, (2022), Int J Sports Med, 43, pp. 305, 10.1055/a-1559-3623
  • Noakes, (2014), Br J Sports Med, 48, pp. 1077, 10.1136/bjsports-2014-093824
  • Devries, (2015), J Food Sci, 80(suppl 1), pp. A8
  • Moore, (2009), Am J Clin Nutr, 89, pp. 161, 10.3945/ajcn.2008.26401
  • Rodriguez, (2022), Nutrients, 14, pp. 5146, 10.3390/nu14235146
  • Peña, (2023), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 20, pp. 2245386, 10.1080/15502783.2023.2245386
  • Günalan, (2022), Nutrients, 14, pp. 3863, 10.3390/nu14183863
  • Ventura Comes, (2018), Nutrients, 10, pp. 1341, 10.3390/nu10101341
  • Moreno, (2022), Nutrients, 14, pp. 3218, 10.3390/nu14153218
  • Holtzman, (2021), Sports Med, 51(suppl 1), pp. 43, 10.1007/s40279-021-01508-8
  • Beard, (2001), J Nutr, 131, pp. 568S, 10.1093/jn/131.2.568S
  • Sim, (2019), Eur J Appl Physiol, 119, pp. 1463, 10.1007/s00421-019-04157-y
  • Peters, (2001), Gut, 48, pp. 435, 10.1136/gut.48.3.435
  • Friedmann, (2001), Dtsch. Z. Sportmed, 52, pp. 262
  • Castell, (2019), Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 29, pp. 181, 10.1123/ijsnem.2018-0288
  • Hinton, (2014), Appl Physiol Nutr Metab, 39, pp. 1012, 10.1139/apnm-2014-0147
  • Domínguez, (2014), Nutr Hosp, 30, pp. 1218
  • Carmel, (2009), Am J Clin Nutr, 90, pp. 1449, 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28835
  • Larson-Meyer, (2018), Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab, 28, pp. 139, 10.1123/ijsnem.2017-0338
  • Pöchmüller, (2016), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 13, pp. 27, 10.1186/s12970-016-0139-6
  • Hawley, (2015), Sports Med, 45(suppl 1), pp. S5, 10.1007/s40279-015-0400-1
  • Jentjens, (2004), Med Sci Sports Exerc, 36, pp. 1551, 10.1249/01.MSS.0000139796.07843.1D
  • Leiper, (2000), Scand J Gastroenterol, 35, pp. 1143, 10.1080/003655200750056600
  • Atherton, (2010), Am J Clin Nutr, 92, pp. 1080, 10.3945/ajcn.2010.29819
  • Sargent, (2021), Int J Sports Physiol Perform, 16, pp. 1746, 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0896
  • Brown, (2008), Women Health, 48, pp. 429, 10.1080/03630240802575179
  • Salinero, (2019), Nutrients, 11, pp. 1600, 10.3390/nu11071600
  • Guest, (2021), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 18, pp. 1, 10.1186/s12970-020-00383-4
  • Costill, (1978), Med Sci Sports, 10, pp. 155
  • Lorenzo Calvo, (2021), Nutrients, 13, pp. 868, 10.3390/nu13030868
  • López-González, (2018), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 15, pp. 60, 10.1186/s12970-018-0267-2
  • McDonagh, (2019), Eur J Sport Sci, 19, pp. 15, 10.1080/17461391.2018.1445298
  • Nyakayiru, (2020), Free Radic Biol Med, 152, pp. 295, 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.03.025
  • Porcelli, (2015), Med Sci Sports Exerc, 47, pp. 1643, 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000577
  • Saunders, (2017), Br J Sports Med, 51, pp. 658, 10.1136/bjsports-2016-096396
  • Peart, (2012), J Strength Cond Res, 26, pp. 1975, 10.1519/JSC.0b013e3182576f3d
  • Lancha Junior, (2015), Sports Med, 45(suppl 1), pp. S71, 10.1007/s40279-015-0397-5
  • Harris, (1976), Pflugers Arch, 367, pp. 137, 10.1007/BF00585149
  • Sahlin, (2011), Amino Acids, 40, pp. 1363, 10.1007/s00726-011-0856-8
  • Swietach, (2013), Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 110, pp. 2064, 10.1073/pnas.1222433110
  • Trexler, (2015), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 12, pp. 30, 10.1186/s12970-015-0090-y
  • Valenzuela, (2019), Eur J Nutr, 58, pp. 2983, 10.1007/s00394-018-1882-z
  • Forbes, (2023), J Int Soc Sports Nutr, 20, pp. 2204071, 10.1080/15502783.2023.2204071
  • Davison, (2021), Nutrients, 13, pp. 1789, 10.3390/nu13061789