CARBOHYDRATE IS A KEY ENERGY SOURCE DURING EXERCISE. FACTORS SUCH AS FED/METABOLIC STATE, DIET, TYPE, INTENSITY/ DURATION OF EXERCISE, AND TRAINING STATUS INFLUENCE ITS USE DURING EXERCISE AND WHETHER EXTERNAL (E.G., DIET), INTERNAL (E.G., MUSCLE OR LIVER GLYCOGEN), OR BLOOD SOURCES ARE USED. ALONG WITH HYDRATION, CARBOHYDRATE AVAILABILITY IS A PRIMARY FACTOR LEADING TO MUSCULAR OR CENTRAL FATIGUE. PROPER TIMING OF CARBOHYDRATE INTAKE BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER EXERCISE CAN SUSTAIN PERFORMANCE AND OPTIMIZE RECOVERY. CARBOHYDRATE TYPE CAN INFLUENCE OSMOTIC, DIGESTIBILITY, GLYCEMIC, AND INSULINEMIC EFFECTS. THIS ARTICLE BRIEFLY REVIEWS THESE KEY CONCEPTS AND PROVIDES PRACTICAL GUIDANCE FOR APPLICATION TO ATHLETES.
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