Book review

ESSENTIALS OF SPORTS NUTRITION

F. Brouns, Wiley, September 2002.

Paperback, 227 pages, £24.95, ISBN 0-471-49765-7.

For those of us lucky enough to own a copy of the

first edition of Brouns’ book this new edition is a

well-anticipated addition to the growing number

of sports nutrition titles.

This book is inviting from the outset. The front

cover leaves no guessing as to its content combi-

ning an opaque green collage of sporting activities

with the standard picture of �healthy� foods. This

may not be original or interesting but is effective.

If I were to compare this book to a car, it would be

a Ford Mondeo as it is reliable, comfortable, mid-

priced and easy-to-use.

Since the first edition was published, the prac-

tice of sports nutrition has moved on and this

book reflects these developments. Whilst many

books in this field are designed to be practical

guides, Brouns’ contribution is written and pre-

sented in a textbook format that makes it most

appealing to the advanced coach, exercise physi-

ologist or interested dietitian rather than to the

athlete or sportsman or woman. The preface states

�This book aims to give a scientific but easily

understood overview of aspects related to nutri-

tion and physical activity, especially of people

involved in regular training with the goal to

improve intensive sports performance.� This is an

understatement that succinctly sums up the book.

Although the author of the book is Brouns, there

appear to be considerable contributions from a

plethora of scientific experts including Professor

Clyde Williams and Professor Ron Maughan.

The book is split into 13 main chapters and has

a reference section which contains 493 citations,

some of which are as recent as 2001. The contents

section is well laid out with chapters divided into

subsections and this, combined with a detailed

index, allows easy navigation around the book. For

quick reference and review at the end of each

chapter there is a bulleted key points section.

The themes of the book are systematically

delivered starting with a brief introduction which

focuses on the increased energy demands from

sport. One criticism is that there is possibility of

some confusion due to an inconsistency in the

units used for energy as these switch between

kilocalories and the SI units, kilojoules.

Brouns takes a pragmatic, physiological, evi-

dence-based approach to carbohydrate which is

informative but does not include some of the

trendy carbohydrate topics such as glycaemic load

and insulin response. Fat and fatty acid oxidation

is one of Brouns’ pet subjects and is covered in

detail, including strategies to improve fatty acid

oxidation, such as the effects of training, medium

chain triglycerides, oral fat emulsions, fat infusion

and caffeine.

The book is balanced by not only discussing

macronutrients, but also micronutrients. The

micronutrient requirements of athletes are among

the least evidence-based areas in sports nutrition.

Recommendations tend to be based on those for

the general population but where possible Brouns

has made the micronutrient recommendations

sport-specific. There is also good descriptive text

on the function of micronutrients in sport inclu-

ding vitamins, minerals, and an interesting section

on free radical production and antioxidants. This

� The British Dietetic Association Ltd 2003 J Hum Nutr Dietet, 16, pp. 123–124 123

will be of interest to many dietitians and not just

those who concentrate on sports nutrition.

The section on supplements and ergogenic aids

covers the usual products as well as a few less

common ones such as ribose, bee pollen and

inosine. The discussion on caffeine is detailed

providing information on food content, rationale

of physiological function and some doping issues.

This book is comprehensive and provides rele-

vant evidence to support the recommendations

made. It has certainly moved on since the first

edition although most of the pictures and illus-

trations remain unchanged.

To sum up, I would say that it is a well-written,

comprehensive textbook that supports the devel-

oping speciality of sports nutrition. My message to

Brouns is �thank you� for this informative well-

written book but please include some up-to-date

pictures and provide more practical advice in the

next edition.

Nigel Mitchell

Consultant Sports Dietitian and

Senior Lecturer in Sports Nutrition,

Sheffield Hallam University, UK

E-mail: n.mitchell@shu.ac.uk

Book review124

� The British Dietetic Association Ltd 2003 J Hum Nutr Dietet, 16, pp. 123–124