Dietary and hydration patterns as indicators of overtraining in elite adolescent sprinters

Abstract

Overtraining may affect the majority of elite athletes at least once in their career, the pathophysiology is however, not clearly understood. This study investigated dietary patterns in adolescent sprinters by comparing athletes who maladapted to prior training with these who adapted, to identify underlying triggers of overtraining. Food diaries were completed by participants during different training phases over 26 weeks. Participants were classified as non-athletes (NA, n = 13), maladapted (MA, n = 12) and adapted (AA, n = 20) athletes. Total energy (p < 0.001), protein (p = 0.009) and carbohydrates (p < 0001) intakes changed across the different training phases. Compared to AA, MA showed a decrease in total energy (p = 0.009) and carbohydrates (p < 0.001) intake throughout the season. Similarly, compared to NA, MA showed a decrease in total energy (p = 0.005) and carbohydrate (p < 0.001) intake across the season. A combination of total energy and carbohydrates intake, sleep quality, and training load/volume were assessed in a logistic regression model, energy intake (OR/CI: 4.7 (1.4, 9.3), p < 0.001), carbohydrates intake (OR/CI: 14.6 (10.0, 21.4), p < 0.001), and sleep quality (OR/CI: 2.8 (1.9, 4.8), p = 0.014) explained overtraining beyond the training load/volume in cases. Reduced total energy, carbohydrates intake, and sleep quality are likely triggers of overtraining beyond long intense training. Caloric and macronutrients periodization as a part of training could prevent maladaptation to training in adolescent sprinters. • Undernutrition, exaggerated caloric expenditure or inappropriate nutritional combinations are likely attributions or triggers of NFOR/OTS in the adolescent sprinters. • Total energy intake and carbohydrate intake are related to performance in sprinters. • Total energy and carbohydrates intake explained cases of training maladaptation in sprinters.