We evaluated the effects of carbohydrate (CHO) supplementation on markers of bone turnover in elite runners.Twenty-four male runners were randomly assigned to two groups – a CHO and a control (CON) group – using a double-blind design. The participants were submitted to an overload training program (days 1–8), followed by a high-intensity intermittent running protocol (10×800m) on day 9. They received a maltodextrin solution (CHO group) or a placebo solution as the CON equivalent, before, during, and after these protocols.After 8days of intensive training, baseline levels of osteocalcin (OC) decreased in both CHO and CON groups (before: 28.8±3.6 and 26.6±2.4ng/ml, after: 24.8±3.0 and 21.9±1.6ng/ml, respectively, p<0.01). On day 9, at 80min of the recovery period, carboxy-terminal of telopeptide type I collagen (CTX) serum concentration was suppressed in the CHO group (0.3±0.1ng/ml) vs. 0.6±0.0ng/ml for the CON group (p<0.01). CHO supplementation was effective in decreasing CTX levels from baseline to recovery (0.5±0.1ng/mL to 0.3±0.1ng/mL, p<0.001), while an increase from 0.4±0.0ng/mL to 0.6±0.0ng/mL (p<0.001) was observed in the CON group.CHO beverage ingestion attenuated the exercise-induced increase in CTX concentration, suggesting that CHO supplementation is a potential strategy to prevent bone damage in athletes.