Research summary · Nutrition and energy
Diet and body-composition practices in combat sports
A review maps dietary intake and body-composition evidence across male and female combat-sport athletes.
- Publication year
- 2026
- First published online
- Publication type
- Systematic review
- Journal
- Nutrients
- Population / context
- Combat sports
What the publication reports
Twenty-three studies were included. Reported energy and carbohydrate intake was often below sport-nutrition recommendations, particularly around pre-competition restriction, while body-composition methods and results varied by discipline.
Limits and interpretation
Most evidence was observational or self-reported, with heterogeneous measurement and weight-making practices. The review cannot prove that reported intake caused performance changes or validate rapid weight loss.
Read the source
Consult the original record for the full author list, methods, references, funding and competing-interest disclosures.
Dietary Intake and Body Composition in Combat Sport Athletes: A Systematic Review
Original publication / indexed recordPMID: 41901059DOI: 10.3390/nu18060884Full text at the sourceReader discussion
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