Update on estimating athlete caloric expenditure: the use of energy availability

Abstract

Introduction and aim: Athletes present high daily caloric expenditure, requiring greater food intake and, sometimes, energy supplements. The energy needs of athletes are directly proportional to the type, frequency, intensity and duration of training. The difficulty of calculating the energy expenditure during physical activities lies in the energy demand being mixed, so it is important to know in which condition it is possible to measure or estimate the energy cost. Materials and methods: A review of the current literature on energy recommendations for athletes was carried out, comparing current Brazilian recommendations with the new North American proposal from Dietitians of Canada, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the American College of Sports Medicine. Results and discussion: There are several equations for calculating energy estimates, with Harris-Benedict and Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) being the most used. In addition, there are recommendations for the energy intake of athletes proposed by the Brazilian Society of Sports Medicine. Recently, a new proposal appears in US guidelines, based on energy availability (ED), which is defined as the energy remaining after exercise for basic physiological processes. For DE, unlike the previous proposals, fat free mass (MLG) or lean mass (MM), instead of total body weight, is considered for energy quantification necessary to promote energy balance and optimum health of athletes. Conclusion: This new concept is useful for improving athlete performance by providing enough calories to maintain muscle mass.