ABSTRACT
Carbohydrates are organic compounds comprised of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen with a chemical formula commonly denoted as Cn(H2O)n. The body’s daily carbohydrate requirements can be met by endogenous processes. This chapter considers that all consumed carbohydrate serves as a supplement in the athletes’ arsenal to support desired performance outcomes. The chapter seeks to elucidate the basics of digestion, endocrine signalling and metabolism. Carbohydrate supplementation is a great tool for fuelling, maintaining intensity and limiting loss of glycogen. Carbohydrate supplementation has been consistently shown in the literature to induce protein synthesis and decrease protein degradation, ultimately leading to enhanced effects of resistance training. Central to the discussion of carbohydrate supplementation are the effects of insulin on human physiology. The production of adenosine triphosphate and reducing agents by enzymatic processes using glucose can be subdivided into three parts: glycolysis, the citric acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation.
