The library
Every number in Feed Athlete comes from here.
The 9 peer-reviewed studies behind the V1 recommendation engine — carbohydrate periodisation, protein distribution, hydration protocols — with authors, journal, publication year and a link to the paper. No abstracts paraphrased by an AI; the summaries are written by the team.
How we use these studies
Peer-reviewed only.
Every source ran through blind peer review in a journal indexed by PubMed, Scopus or an equivalent registry. Preprints and conference abstracts do not make it into the engine.
Current and canonical.
Position stands from ACSM, ISSN and the IOC take precedence, followed by systematic reviews. A single study rarely moves a target on its own — consensus does.
Traceable in-product.
Each macro target, fuel protocol and hydration plan carries the exact source that supports it. Tap a citation in the app to open the paper or its DOI record.
Credibility tiers
We tag each study to help you read the list at a glance. A Tier 1 source carries more weight in the engine than a Tier 3 one; we try to keep the floor high and upgrade to the strongest available evidence as it gets published.
- Consensus or meta-analysis
- Position stands from ACSM, ISSN, IOC, Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. Systematic reviews that aggregate the field.
- Solid RCT or review
- Single randomized controlled trials and narrative reviews with strong methodology. Actionable for individual targets, not the final word on its own.
- Observational
- Cohort or cross-sectional evidence. Directional only — we cite it when the stronger tiers are silent on a specific question.
References
The nine papers we lean on, in order of weight.
The list grows as the engine does.
We add sources as new coverage lands in the planner — iron deficiency in female athletes, heat acclimatization and plant-based adaptation are next on the reading list. If there is a paper we should know about, write to hello@feed-athlete.com.