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Supplement Intake in Marathon Runners

Braden Durham

NT 161: Sports Nutrition

Dr. Wren

February 2, 2022
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The article dives into the ongoing nutritional challenge that runners encounter on a daily

basis. The article begins by giving a detailed description of running and the dietary needs that the

runners need. The author goes on to state that a runner should be consuming high carbohydrate

meals days prior to their race (Wimitzer 2). It is also stated that the runner should try to avoid

foods high in fat, protein or fiber. Insufficient nutrition can cause a negative effect on the

runner’s performance or health (Wimitzer 2021). During the introduction, the author reveals that

there were 317 participants in the survey and 119 total distance runners that were involved in the

final sample of the experiment (Wimitzer 2021). The runners were split into three different

groups. A total of 24 runners were assigned to the 10 km runner group, 44 half-marathon

runners, and 51 runners were labeled as ultra marathon runners. The participants were told to

report their intake of supplements and food.

The biggest difference found between sex (male and female) was race distance. Roughly

67% of the runners of the 10 km race were found to be female. While the runners in the half

marathon and ultra marathon were 55% and 67% male (Wimitzer ). It was reported that 50% of

the participants (59) reported consuming supplements regularly while the CHO/protein intake

was 34, 43 and 16 percent respectively (Wimitzer 2021). The longer the race, the lower the

percentage of the intake. The same trend was found when vitamin intake was collected. It was

found that the 10 km runners were 55%, half marathon runners 42% and ultra marathon runners

36%. The trend became skewed when mineral intake was collected. The 10 km runners were

found to have 33%, half marathon runners were 31% and ultra marathon runners were 34%.

In conclusion, the study showed that 50% of all the runners were found to consume micro

and macro nutrients while 59% were found to consume supplements on a daily basis. The types

of supplement intake had no correlation with the race distance. The nutrition and supplement
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side to the training should be completely separate from the training for the different races.

Nutrition and supplementation can have a huge impact on the runners’ performances depending

on what they are intaking.

The article went into great detail to make sure that all possible errors were covered up.

The authors accounted for race, sex, BMI, weight, and more. This was to make sure that the

participants were all similar in and did not have any outlying factors that could potentially skew

the results of the experiment. Taking these factors into account will help keep the data of the

experiment clean and efficient. The in depth process and steps taken were essential to the success

of the experiment. The background assessment of all of the participants is the most impressive

aspect of this experiment. On page 5, table 1, the authors break down all of the information about

the participants.

The experiment did not track performance output based on the supplements/nutrition but

rather the intake of them based on the different runners. The experiment displayed that roughly

half of the runners had some kind of intake of supplements or vitamins. It was rather surprising

at how low the carbohydrate consumption was amongst the runners. Based on previous

discussions, it would be assumed that distance athletes would be consuming more carbohydrates

and vitamins to help with having energy during their competition.

This article was found when searching through the Reeves Library. A link to the EBSCO

host was provided on the web page. The key words “sports nutrition” was keyed in to find the

article. After some searching through the pages, this article was found and it was relevant to the

current discussions in class about carbohydrates. The research was performed by the Journal of

the International Society of Sports Nutrition. They also paid for the study. There were many

authors involved in the article so it is believed that the article is reviewed by them all.
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References

Wirnitzer et al. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (2021) 18:64

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12970-021-00460-2