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The ketone bodies acetoacetate and β-hydroxybutyrate have wide-ranging metabolic and molecular effects on organs such as the brain, heart and skeletal muscle, some of which are suggestive of benefits to athletes in terms of performance and recovery. The recent development and increasing commercial availability of ingestible forms of ketone bodies as exogenous ketone supplements has amplified interest in these compounds. A variety of compounds classified as exogenous ketone supplements are now available and have been subject to several studies in exercise performance and recovery contexts in human participants. While there are mechanistic bases for potential beneficial effects of exogenous ketone supplements in various athletic contexts, most studies to date have failed to observe benefits to performance or recovery.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
05/15/2026
BOC
1
05/15/2026
Commission on Dietetic Registration
1
03/31/2024
In this course, Dr David Kennedy discusses caffeine from a research and real-world perspective. Caffeine, when taken alone in a research context, is associated with consistent ergogenic and psychological benefits, although within differing optimal dose ranges. In a real-world sport/exercise context, caffeine is often consumed alongside other bioactive compounds in the form of manufactured energy drinks or naturally occurring, plant-derived, caffeinated products. This SSE course explores the state of the research and where further exploration is needed.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
02/06/2026
BOC
1
02/06/2026
Commission on Dietetic Registration
1
03/31/2024
Because of the discussions on more sustainable food production and the need to improve lifestyle and health, there is a growing interest in the transition towards consuming a more plant-based diet. As a result, daily protein intake will be derived more from the consumption of plant-based proteins at the expense of animal-based proteins. There are many questions on whether this has impact on the capacity of an athlete to recover and recondition following exercise. So far, basic research indicates that the ingestion of plant-derived proteins may not stimulate muscle protein synthesis to the same extent when compared to the ingestion of an equivalent amount of animal-derived proteins. The proposed lesser anabolic properties of plant- versus animal-based proteins have been attributed to differences in protein digestion and amino acid absorption kinetics. Furthermore, most plant-derived proteins have lower essential amino acid contents and can be deficient in one or more specific amino acids. However, it should be noted that very few studies have directly compared muscle protein synthesis rates following the ingestion of plant- versus high quality animal-derived proteins. Theoretically, a lower bioavailability and/or functionality of plant-based protein sources and/or plant-derived protein concentrates may result in greater daily protein requirements for athletes transitioning towards a (more) plant-based diet. However, as athletes typically consume a diet that provides more than 1.5 g protein per day, a lesser protein bioavailability or protein quality will unlikely compromise muscle conditioning in athletes adopting a (more) plant-based diet. However, when athletes are changing to a plant-based diet under conditions of low(er) energy and/or protein intake, a sports dietitian should be consulted to ensure ample protein provision.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
11/09/2025
BOC
1
11/09/2025
Commission on Dietetic Registration
1
05/31/2024
Dietary protein is essential for an athlete’s recovery and adaptation as it provides the requisite amino acid building blocks to repair and remodeling old and/or damaged proteins, especially within working skeletal muscle. Amino acids may also be used as a source of fuel during exercise that requires high mitochondrial flux (e.g. repeated sprint and steady state endurance exercise) and therefore must be consumed in the diet to replenish these exercise-induced losses of the essential amino acids (e.g. branched chain amino acids). The majority of research on protein requirements for athletes have been performed in young individuals, which opens debate as to whether Master athletes would require similar or greater intakes. Available evidence suggest current recommendations for younger athletes would also translate to Master athletes. As opposed to daily protein targets that have been the focus of past research, current practice suggests the most efficient strategy to consume the daily protein requirement is to focus on consuming meals with a moderate amount of protein spaced regularly throughout the day. There is little evidence to suggest that protein requirements in older Master athletes are different between men and women, although estrogen is generally ‘protein-sparing’ and therefore can reduce protein requirements by ~10-15%. There appears to be an opportunity to educate Master athletes as to their meal protein requirements, which may be a safe and effective way to improve their training recovery and adaptation.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
11/09/2025
BOC
1
11/09/2025
Commission on Dietetic Registration
1
05/31/2024
Adolescence is a period of natural experimentation and is particularly important in terms of establishing the connection between diet, exercise and body image. An adolescent’s peers become increasingly powerful moderators of all behaviors, including eating. The pathway to elite sports performance is complex, and rarely forecast by success at junior levels. Stakeholders involved in managing developing athletes have a responsibility to prioritize sound physical and mental development while integrating principles of sport nutrition success.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
11/09/2025
BOC
1
11/09/2025
Commission on Dietetic Registration
1
05/31/2024
Fatigue during high intensity sports or activities (~1-10 minutes in length) is caused by several components with strong evidence that muscle acidosis via accumulating hydrogen ions is a key performance inhibitor. To address this issue, skeletal muscle has intra and extracellular buffering mechanisms to attenuate exercise induced acidosis. Carnosine is an intracellular buffer that is key in slowing the decline of muscle pH. Carnosine has a nitrogen containing imidazole side ring which accepts or buffers hydrogen. This buffering can contribute as much as 15% of total buffering capacity. Additionally, carnosine has been shown to be a calcium/hydrogen exchanger, delivering calcium back to the sarcoplasmic reticulum and hydrogen away to the cell membrane. This suggests that carnosine may increase calcium sensitivity and muscle contraction efficiency. Plasma beta-alanine is the rate limiting substrate of carnosine. Approximately 3-6 g/d of beta-alanine supplementation over at least four weeks can elevate muscle carnosine stores by 30-60%. Several meta-analyses have been conducted and has shown 2-3% increased performance in non-elite athletes, followed with just 0.5-1% increased performance in elite athletes.
Course Objectives
Course
Credits
Course Expiration
ACSM
1
06/24/2024
BOC
1
06/23/2024
Commission on Dietetic Registration
1
06/23/2024
CSCCa
1
06/23/2024