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The Effects of Targeted Nutritional Strategies on Athlete Performance

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Dr. George Panayiotou

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Guest Editor

Laboratory of Exercise, Health and Human Performance, Applied Sport Science Postgraduate Program, Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, 1516 Nicosia, Cyprus
Interests: oxidative stress; sports nutrition; sports supplements; body composition; chronic diseases; performance profiling; workload monitoring
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Dr. Stavrie Chrysostomou

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Clinical Dietetics and Nutrition, Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, 1516 Nicosia, Cyprus
Interests: food insecurity; nutritional assessment; body composition; chronic diseases; medical nutrition therapy

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As nutritional science evolves, dietary management has become a cornerstone in optimizing athlete performance, recovery, and adaptation. This Special Issue will consolidate cutting-edge evidence on how targeted nutritional strategies—ranging from macronutrient periodization and nutrient timing to hydration protocols and supplementation—can enhance physical capacity and mitigate injury risk. Recent studies have highlighted the value of aligning energy intake with training demands, as seen in elite athletes whose performance hinges on precisely tailored caloric and nutrient plans. Innovative directions, including gut microbiota modulation, chrononutrition, and nutrigenomic applications, have revealed how personalized nutrition can support metabolic efficiency, immune resilience, and cognitive function under stress. Bridging theoretical insights and applied practice, this Special Issue will showcase original research and reviews exploring the interplay between dietary interventions and physiological markers, performance metrics, and sport-specific demands. Topics of interest include energy availability, recovery strategies, sex-specific nutrition, and dietary monitoring tools. This Special Issue will provide a comprehensive platform to advance evidence-based nutritional approaches that will empower athletes across disciplines to achieve their peak potential.

Dr. George Panayiotou
Dr. Stavrie Chrysostomou
Guest Editors

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Review

21 pages, 531 KB

Open AccessReview

Nutritional Strategies for Olympic Biathletes: A Practical Review

by Mateusz Gawelczyk, Magdalena Kaszuba and Miroslav Petr

Nutrients 2025, 17(21), 3385; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17213385 - 28 Oct 2025

Viewed by 671

Abstract

Biathlon is a winter Olympic sport that combines high-intensity cross-country skiing with precise rifle shooting. These dual demands require athletes to develop exceptional aerobic capacity while maintaining fine motor accuracy under physiological stress. Despite its complexity, nutritional strategies in biathlon remain under-explored and recommendations are often extrapolated from related endurance sports. This narrative review aims to summarise existing knowledge on nutrition in biathlon, highlight sport-specific challenges and identify areas for future research. The main findings indicate that biathletes face very high energy demands, with daily expenditure exceeding 7000 kcal during intensive training. Carbohydrates are the primary fuel source, with intake recommendations based on training intensity and duration (6–12 g/kg/d). Furthermore, protein is essential for muscle repair, recovery and adaptation. To achieve the recommended intake of 1.6 g/kg/day, it is advisable to consume meals containing approximately 0.3 g/kg of high-quality protein every three to four hours. Given the frequency of training sessions, effective recovery strategies are important in biathlon. When recovery is a priority, biathletes should consume a meal comprising protein (approximately 0.3 g/kg) and carbohydrates (approximately 1.2 g/kg) before key training sessions. Micronutrient and vitamin deficiencies are not commonly observed in biathletes due to their high calorie intake. However, concerns regarding iron and vitamin D are common among endurance athletes due to the high risk of low energy intake, diets lacking in iron, and insufficient exposure to sunlight. On the day of the race, it is recommended that biathletes plan their meals to ensure that they meet their nutritional needs and begin recovery as soon as possible after the race is over. Biathletes may use specific supplements to enhance performance and health during preparation and competition. However, it is important to note that some supplements that improve performance may harm shooting accuracy. Current guidance is provisional, and future research should adopt a dual-performance framework that evaluates both endurance output and shooting precision under realistic competition conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of Targeted Nutritional Strategies on Athlete Performance)

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