Research in Exercise Nutrition (REN) is a peer‑reviewed journal dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of how dietary intake, nutrient metabolism, and nutritional interventions interact with acute and chronic exercise to influence human health, performance, and adaptation. The journal prioritises mechanistic, applied, and clinical investigations that place nutrition at the core of the research question, while recognising exercise as the primary physiological stressor or therapeutic stimulus.
We publish concise, high‑impact scholarship including original research, brief reports, systematic reviews, meta‑analyses, and evidence‑based case studies. All submissions must demonstrate robust experimental design, appropriate nutritional assessment methodologies, and clear translational value for sports dietitians, nutrition scientists, clinicians, and coaching staff.
Core nutritional themes covered by the journal include (but are not limited to):
Macronutrient requirements and periodisation – carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake strategies for training, competition, and recovery, including timing, dose‑response, and individualisation.
Micronutrient status and ergogenic value – the role of vitamins, minerals, and trace elements in energy production, muscle function, immune response, and oxidative defence in athletic and active populations.
Dietary patterns and eating behaviours – the impact of whole‑diet approaches (e.g., Mediterranean, plant‑based, ketogenic, intermittent fasting) on exercise performance, body composition, and metabolic health.
Supplementation and ergogenic aids – critical evaluation of efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of action for single ingredients, multi‑ingredient formulas, and novel bioactives, with emphasis on evidence‑based recommendations.
Nutritional strategies for special populations – tailored interventions for young athletes, masters athletes, females, individuals with disabilities, and those with clinical conditions (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sarcopenia) undertaking exercise programmes.
Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED‑s) and energy availability – assessment, prevention, and dietary management of low energy availability and its consequences on endocrine, skeletal, and reproductive health.
Gastrointestinal and microbiome‑nutrient interactions – the influence of gut microbiota on nutrient absorption, substrate utilisation, and inflammatory responses to exercise, and the use of pre‑/probiotics in athletic populations.
Nutritional recovery and tissue repair – dietary modulation of muscle soreness, glycogen resynthesis, connective tissue remodelling, and immune recovery following strenuous exercise.
Hydration and electrolyte balance from a nutritional perspective – beverage composition, sodium replacement, fluid‑food interactions, and individualised hydration plans based on sweat losses and environmental conditions.
Behavioural and adherence issues in dietary interventions – psychological, social, and environmental determinants of compliance to nutrition protocols in both recreational and elite sport settings.
Emerging analytical and technological approaches – application of metabolomics, stable isotopes, continuous glucose monitoring, and dietary assessment tools (e.g., image‑based records) to refine nutritional recommendations for exercising individuals.
The journal encourages interdisciplinary work that bridges nutrition with exercise biochemistry, endocrinology, and immunology, provided that nutritional variables remain the primary independent or mediating factor. Submissions must include clear dietary exposure characterisation, valid intake or biomarker quantification, and clinically or practically meaningful outcome measures.
REN does not consider manuscripts focused solely on exercise physiology, training adaptation, or biomechanics without a substantive nutritional component. Likewise, studies on body composition or metabolic rate are welcome only when dietary manipulation is the central intervention or when nutritional status is the main explanatory variable.
We aim to serve as a global forum for translating cutting‑edge nutritional science into actionable knowledge for practitioners, policymakers, and researchers committed to optimising human performance and health through evidence‑based nutrition in the context of physical activity.