Food and Macronutrient Intake of Elite Kenyan Distance Runners

Estimated energy intake (EI) of elite Kenyan runners was 2987 +/- 293 kcal, lower than their energy expenditure (EE) of 3605 +/- 119 kcal.

• Body mass (BM) decreased from 58.9 +/- 2.7 kg to 58.3 +/- 2.6 kg during a 7-day intense training period.
• The diet was high in carbohydrates (76.5%) and low in fat (13.4%).
• Protein intake was 10.1%, equating to 1.3 g/kg body mass per day, meeting recommendations for protein intake.
• Fluid intake averaged 1113 +/- 269 mL of water and 1243 +/- 348 mL of tea.
• The diet generally met macronutrient recommendations for endurance athletes, but potential effects on performance remain uncertain.

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