Adequacy of energy and macronutrient intake of food supplements for athletes

Vanessa Behrends Rodrigues,Hellen Clair Garcêz Nabuco,Christianne De Faria Coelho Ravagnani,Fabrício César De Paula Ravagnani,Mariano Martínez Espinosa,Vânia Letícia Souza Fernandes

doi:10.1590/1678-98652017000500005

Vanessa Behrends Rodrigues, Hellen Clair Garcêz Nabuco + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-98652017000500005

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective To assess how much food supplements contribute to the nutritional adequacy of energy and macronutrients in relation those recommended for athletes. Methods This was a cross sectional study was composed of 182 athletes from 19 sports (150 men and 32 women) with a mean age, weight, height and body mass index of 23.8±7.5 years, 73.7±15.6kg, 1.7±0.1m, 24.2±4.0kg/m², respectively. The 24 hours dietary recall was applied to assess intake and the Multiple Source Method to evaluate usual intake. We used the t-test, Mann-Whitney test, Analysis of Variance and Kruskal-Wallis for comparative analysis among the diets, gender and types of groups, and the comparison of two-proportion test to assess the diets Food and Food and Supplementation. Results Of the athletes studied, less than half used dietary supplements (39.0%). Energy intake was below the recommended (52.7%) in Food diet, and 45.6% in Food and Supplementation diet. The mean total of carbohydrate inadequacy (g.kg-1.day-1) was high for athletes of both genders and between Food and Food and Supplementation diets. The protein intake was above the recommended levels in Food diet (23.1%) and in Food and Supplementation diet (33.5%). The lipid intake was also above the recommended dietary levels in Food (47.3%) and in Food and Supplementation diets (50.0%). Conclusion The use of supplements did not significantly reduce inadequacies of diet and the athletes’ intake of calories and carbohydrates was below the recommended for these groups. However, the protein intake was above the recommended levels for athletes.

Highlights

The importance of nutrition for athletic performance and health maintenance of athletes is well documented in the literature [1]
The protein intake was above the recommended levels in Food diet (23.1%) and in Food and Supplementation diet (33.5%)
Food consumption and dietary supplements were assessed by the 24-Hour Dietary Recall (24-HDR) method applied on two non-consecutive days of the week, with the aid of a photographic record taken during an interview [10]

Summary

Introduction

The importance of nutrition for athletic performance and health maintenance of athletes is well documented in the literature [1]. The use of supplements is not always based on nutritional deficiencies, efficacy, safety or legality, leading to unnecessary costs for athletes, clubs and/or sponsors, in addition to the risk of positive doping [9]. They are used for a wide range of purposes in sports (as stimulants, sleep enhancement, water replenishment, fatigue reduction and stored body fat), one of the primary functions of nutritional supplements is to help athletes achieve their higher daily needs of energy and nutrients due to training [9]

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Discussion

Conclusion