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Commercial hype versus reality: our current scientific understanding of gluten and athletic performance
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 21:22 authored by Lis, DM, James Fell, Kiran AhujaKiran Ahuja, Kitic, CM, Stellingwerff, TRecent explosion in the prevalence of gluten-free athletes, exacerbated by unsubstantiated commercial health claims, has led to some professional athletes touting gluten-free diet as the secret to their success. Forty-one percent of athletes report adhering to a gluten-free diet (GFD), which is four-fold higher than the population-based clinical requirements. Many nonceliac athletes believe that gluten avoidance improves gastrointestinal well-being, reduces inflammation, and provides an ergogenic edge, despite the fact that limited data yet exist to support any of these benefits. There are several plausible associations between endurance-based exercise and gastrointestinal permeability whereby a GFD may be beneficial. However, the implications of confounding factors, including the risks of unnecessary dietary restriction, financial burden, food availability, psychosocial implications, alterations in short-chain carbohydrates (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols), and other wheat constituents emphasize the need for further evaluation.
History
Publication title
Current Sports Medicine ReportsVolume
15Issue
4Pagination
262-268ISSN
1537-890XDepartment/School
School of Health SciencesPublisher
Current Science Inc.Place of publication
United StatesRights statement
Copyright 2016 by the American College of Sports MedicineRepository Status
- Restricted