Optimal nutrition is an important aspect of an athlete’s preparation to achieve optimal health and performance. While general concepts about micro- and macronutrients and timing of food and fluids are addressed in sports science, rarely are the specific effects of women’s physiology on energy and fluid needs highly considered in research or clinical practice. Women differ from men not only in size, but in body composition and hormonal milieu, and also differ from one another. Their monthly hormonal cycles, with fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone, have varying effects on metabolism and fluid retention. Such cycles can change from month to month, can be suppressed with exogenous hormones, and may even be manipulated to capitalize on ideal timing for performance. But before such physiology can be manipulated, its relationship with nutrition and performance must be understood. This review will address general concepts regarding substrate metabolism in women versus men, common menstrual patterns of female athletes, nutrient and hydration needs during different phases of the menstrual cycle, and health and performance issues related to menstrual cycle disruption. We will discuss up-to-date recommendations for fueling female athletes, describe areas that require further exploration, and address methodological considerations to inform future work in this important area.

最佳营养是运动员准备达到最佳健康和表现的一个重要方面。虽然关于微量和大量营养素以及食物和液体时间的一般概念在运动科学中得到解决，但在研究或临床实践中很少考虑女性生理对能量和液体需求的具体影响。女性与男性的不同不仅在于体型，还在于身体成分和荷尔蒙环境，而且彼此也不同。他们每月的荷尔蒙周期，随着雌激素和孕激素的波动，对新陈代谢和体液潴留有不同的影响。这样的周期可以逐月变化，可以被外源性激素抑制，甚至可以被操纵以利用理想的表现时机。但在这种生理学被操纵之前，必须了解它与营养和表现的关系。这篇综述将讨论关于女性与男性的底物代谢、女性运动员常见的月经模式、月经周期不同阶段的营养和水合作用需求以及与月经周期中断相关的健康和表现问题的一般概念。我们将讨论为女运动员加油的最新建议，描述需要进一步探索的领域，并解决方法论考虑，为这一重要领域的未来工作提供信息。与月经周期中断有关的健康和表现问题。我们将讨论为女运动员加油的最新建议，描述需要进一步探索的领域，并解决方法论考虑，为这一重要领域的未来工作提供信息。与月经周期中断有关的健康和表现问题。我们将讨论为女运动员加油的最新建议，描述需要进一步探索的领域，并解决方法论考虑，为这一重要领域的未来工作提供信息。