Table 2 Summary of reviewed case studies relating to peak week CHO manipulation in physique athletes
From: Peak Week Carbohydrate Manipulation Practices in Physique Athletes: A Narrative Review
References | Participant | Methods | Relevant findings |
|---|---|---|---|
Hickson et al. [89] | White, drug-enhanced M amateur bodybuilder (27yrs) | Collection of daily food records over the course of a 30-day contest preparation period | Implementation of a 2-day CHO restriction period followed by 3 days of moderate intake in the week before competition. Consumed mainly CHOs prior to stepping on stage. Placed in top three of competing weight class, no body composition outcomes measured |
Steen et al. [88] | White, drug-enhanced M amateur bodybuilder (25yrs) | Collection of five-day food records at 6 and 5 months, and 1 week pre-competition | Implementation of 3-day CHO restriction, followed by 3 days of moderate intake in the week before competition. No body composition outcomes measured |
Rossow et al. [59] | White, natural M bodybuilder (26yrs) | Monthly body composition assessment (via 4CM and SFs) and collection of dietary records for 6 months pre- and post-competition. On the month of competition, data were collected 1 week pre-competition | ↑ FFM and TBW with ↓ ΣUST and BF% (both 4CM and SFs) in month of competition compared to previous month |
Halliday et al. [75] | White, natural F amateur figure competitor (26yrs) | Collection of SF thickness measures on eight and four occasions pre- and post-competition, respectively. Daily self-reported dietary intake and BM | ↓ ΣSF thickness in the final week before competition from four weeks prior, coinciding with a modest ↑ in energy and CHO intake |
Lapinskienė et al. [90] | Natural M professional bodybuilder (28yrs) | Case report of a competitor admitted to hospital following bilateral lower limb paralysis | The competitor consumed 800 g of high GI CHO on the day of competition following a month of severe CHO restriction. The exact amount of CHO consumed pre-stage is unknown |
Schoenfeld et al. [39] | White, M amateur bodybuilder (25yrs) | Monthly body composition over an 8-month pre-competition and 4-month post-competition period with daily nutrition logs completed by the participant. The peaking strategy for one of the participant’s four competitions was detailed | ↑ in UMT observed following 3-day CD and 2-day CL phases |
Barakat et al. [40] | Middle Eastern-American, natural M professional bodybuilder (29yrs) | Collection of dietary intakes, hydration status, and body composition of the participant on 6 days over an 8 day “peaking” period | A 3-day CD followed by a 2-day CL and 1-day tapering phases implemented prior to competition. UMT positively correlated with CHO intake. ICW/ECW peaked on the final day of CD, ↓ during CL and ↑ to slightly above baseline value on competition day |