NEAT Sports Nutrition & Supplementation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which type of dietary fat is most beneficial for reducing exercise-induced inflammation in athletes?
- Saturated fatty acids
- Trans fatty acids
- Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (Correct answer)
- Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Correct answer: Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have well-documented anti-inflammatory properties that support athlete recovery and reduce exercise-induced inflammation.
Question 2: What is the performance-relevant threshold for exercise-induced dehydration that sports nutrition guidelines aim to prevent?
- Loss of 0.5% body weight
- Loss of greater than 2% body weight (Correct answer)
- Loss of 5% body weight
- Any measurable body weight loss
Correct answer: Loss of greater than 2% body weight
A body weight loss exceeding 2% from dehydration has been consistently shown to impair physical and cognitive performance.
Question 3: Among ergogenic supplements, which one has the strongest evidence base for improving endurance exercise performance?
- HMB (beta-hydroxy beta-methylbutyrate)
- Caffeine (Correct answer)
- Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)
- Glutamine
Correct answer: Caffeine
Caffeine has the strongest evidence base among ergogenic supplements, improving endurance performance by blocking adenosine receptors, reducing perceived exertion, and mobilizing free fatty acids.
Question 4: What is the primary role of iron in athletic performance?
- Building contractile muscle protein
- Transporting oxygen via hemoglobin and myoglobin (Correct answer)
- Providing energy through glycolysis
- Regulating blood pressure during exercise
Correct answer: Transporting oxygen via hemoglobin and myoglobin
Iron is a critical component of hemoglobin and myoglobin, enabling oxygen transport to working muscles and directly impacting aerobic performance capacity.
Question 5: Which electrolyte is most critical to replace during prolonged exercise lasting more than 2 hours to prevent a potentially dangerous condition?
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Sodium (Correct answer)
- Magnesium
Correct answer: Sodium
Sodium is the primary electrolyte lost in sweat and is most critical to replace during prolonged exercise to maintain fluid balance and prevent hyponatremia.
Question 6: What does the term 'carbohydrate periodization' mean in sports nutrition?
- Consuming the same amount of carbohydrates every day regardless of training
- Strategically varying carbohydrate intake to match daily training demands (Correct answer)
- Cycling off carbohydrates completely during the off-season
- Consuming carbohydrates in a fixed weekly sequence
Correct answer: Strategically varying carbohydrate intake to match daily training demands
Carbohydrate periodization involves deliberately adjusting carbohydrate intake to align with training load—higher intake on high-demand days and lower intake on easy or rest days.
Question 7: Which vitamin is particularly important for athletes who train predominantly indoors or in northern latitudes due to limited sun exposure?
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin D (Correct answer)
- Vitamin E
Correct answer: Vitamin D
Vitamin D, primarily synthesized through sun exposure, is frequently deficient in athletes training indoors or in low-sunlight regions, and is essential for bone health, muscle function, and immune response.
NEAT Sports Nutrition & Supplementation 2
Which type of dietary fat is most beneficial for reducing exercise-induced inflammation in athletes?