Probably greater than any other component of the physiology syllabus, the application of good nutritional practice and nutritional manipulation has made a significant impact upon general health and sporting performance. This course is designed to provide a thorough understanding of the nutritional needs of exercise, exercise metabolism and the use and abuse of nutritional (ergogenic) aids to improve health, training and competitive performance.

Fundamentals of nutrition and energy balance. Nutrient and energy value of food. An examination of 'healthy' energy balance through body composition. Critical review of BMI as a index of overweight, obesity and adiposity. Energy expenditure of sporting activities. Power and capacity of metabolic pathways. Metabolic substrate ('fuel') during exercise of varying intensity and duration. Carbohydrate metabolism. Critical role of muscle and liver glycogen. Dietary manipulation and glycogen supercompensation. Carbohydrate feeding during the event and replacement after the event. Fat metabolism. Metabolic regulation of fat oxidation. Effect of endurance training on fuel selection, fat and carbohydrate oxidation. Caffeine feeding and endurance performance. Healthy exercise: exercise metabolism in relation to obesity and insulin resistance. Protein metabolism. Muscle metabolism of amino acids during endurance exercise. Muscle protein synthesis (MPS). Exercise and amino acid regulation of MPS. Fluid balance during and in the recovery from prolonged exercise. Metabolic limitations to high intensity exercise. Phosophocreatine buffering of ATP turnover. Creatine supplementation in sport. Glycolytic flux and lactic acid production. Critical role of pH and muscle buffering. Oxidative stress during exercise. The role of free radicals. Antioxidant defence and the effects of training. Nutritional antioxidant supplements.

On completion the student should be able to: Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of nutrient intake in the maintenance of human health. Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the change in human energy metabolism brought about by physical activity. Review the process of nutrient digestion and metabolism and understand how these adapt to acute and chronic exercise. Explain the relevance of activity-induced adaptation in energy metabolism to the maintenance of health and prevention of inactivity-related disease. Understand how nutrient intake and nutrient timing affects human performance in sport and related activities. Analyse relevant research on exercise metabolism and the use and miss-use of ergogenic aids.

Appreciate and promote the importance of proper nutrition and nutrient timing in sportand health.

On completion the student should be able to: Demonstrate procedures of best practice in the conduct of experimental work with human subjects. Demonstrate proficiency in laboratory measurement techniques to assess human metabolism in sport and health. Demonstrate a competent and professional approach to the evaluation of nutrient intake in human subjects.

Much of the core content will be delivered by formal lecture supported by directed reading from texts/websites. Graduate attributes are developed through tutorial work designed to support the learning experience through synthesis and discussion. Tutorial seminars allow the student to explore and research a topic of interest and to develop independence. Experimental work extends the theoretical framework and allows the student to empirically challenge core concepts. Through experimental work to develop computing, recording, numerical and report writing skills.