Which statement best describes the relationship between the pregame meal timing and its purpose?

• A. It should be eaten 3 hours before competition and primarily hydrates the athlete.
• B. It should be eaten 3 hours before competition and stores glycogen in liver and resting muscle.
• C. It should be eaten 2 hours before competition and increases fat oxidation.
• D. It should be eaten immediately before competition and boosts protein synthesis.

Answer: (B)

A pregame meal timed about three hours before competition aims to maximize energy availability by replenishing liver and resting muscle glycogen. After a carbohydrate-rich meal, insulin helps convert glucose into glycogen in the liver and muscles, and giving roughly three hours allows digestion and storage to occur before you start moving. This makes the described statement the best fit because it ties the timing to actual glycogen storage in both the liver and resting muscle, providing a ready energy source for the upcoming exertion.

Hydration is important, but the main purpose of this timing is to replenish glycogen, not just to hydrate. The claim about increased fat oxidation at the two-hour mark doesn’t capture the central goal of replenishing carbohydrate stores. Eating immediately before competition can cause gastrointestinal distress and does not optimize glycogen replenishment or energy availability in the moment. Protein synthesis is not the immediate energy-focused goal of a pregame meal.