Abstract
Nutrition knowledge is a critical component of meeting sport nutrition guidelines. The present study aimed to evaluate the sport nutrition knowledge of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III (DIII) athletes using a validated questionnaire, and to assess the dietary practices and sources of nutrition information in this population. A total of 331 student-athletes (n = 149 males, n = 181 females, n = 1 no sex indicated) completed the questionnaire. The mean score for total sport nutrition knowledge was 6.49 ± 8.9 (range −49 to 49) with a mean percent (%) correct score of 36.9 ± 19.1%. Athletes who had a previous college-level nutrition course (n = 62) had significantly higher (p < 0.05) total sport nutrition, carbohydrate, and hydration knowledge compared to those who did not (n = 268). Individual sport athletes (n = 90) scored significantly higher (p < 0.05) on hydration and micronutrients knowledge than team sport athletes (n = 237), while females scored higher than males for hydration knowledge (p < 0.05). The majority of athletes reported sensible dietary habits, such as not frequently skipping meals and eating carbohydrate and protein foods peri-workout. Athletes also reported their primary sources of nutrition information, the top three sources being social media, coaches, and athletic trainers, despite most frequently rating registered dietitians/nutritionists as “extremely knowledgeable”. Despite low sport nutrition knowledge, NCAA DIII collegiate athletes practiced seemingly prudent dietary habits but lacked exposure to high-quality sources of nutrition information.
Highlights
A well-chosen diet plan is critical for optimizing sport performance and the promotion of beneficial training adaptations [1]
Athletes from 10 different sports were represented by the male respondents, and a total of 12 different sports were represented by the female respondents
These results indicate that National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III (DIII) collegiate athletes, who typically lack robust institutional resources, are in need of sport nutrition education and could benefit from greater institutional support
Summary
A well-chosen diet plan is critical for optimizing sport performance and the promotion of beneficial training adaptations [1]. Prolonged failure to meet these demands places an athlete at risk of developing a condition known currently as relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) [3]. This condition is defined by the intersection of low energy intake normalized to fat-free mass (i.e., low energy availability [LEA]), poor bone mineralization, and impaired reproductive function that, together, can impair performance and health [4,5]. Athletes commonly fail to meet recognized sport nutrition guidelines for energy, fluid, and macronutrients [6–8], placing them at risk for LEA and RED-S [5]. While the causative factors for failing to meet recognized sport nutrition guidelines are likely multifactorial (e.g., taste, convenience, and access to resources [11]), one postulated reason for the mismatch between the requisite energy demands of sport and actual dietary intakes in athletes is poor sport nutrition knowledge
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