Key Nutritional Considerations for Youth Winter Sports Athletes to Optimize Growth, Maturation and Sporting Development.

Marcus P Hannon,Vincent Gremeaux,Joelle Leonie Flueck,Nicolas Place,Bengt Kayser,Chris Donnelly

doi:10.3389/fspor.2021.599118

Marcus P Hannon, Vincent Gremeaux + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.599118

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Abstract

Despite a wealth of sport nutrition guidelines for adult athletes, there are currently no nutrition guidelines for youth winter sports athletes. Whilst it may be pragmatic to apply nutrition guidelines for adult athletes to youth winter sports athletes, it is inappropriate. Due to a paucity of research on youth athletes, it is impossible to provide evidence-based guidelines for this population, so careful extrapolation from the theoretical and practical considerations that apply to other athletic groups is necessary. Youth winter sport athletes undergo rapid biological growth and maturation which influences their nutritional requirements. A varied and balanced diet that ensures sufficient energy availability for optimal growth and maturation as well as sporting performance is the cornerstone of youth athlete nutrition and should also allow for youth athletes to meet their micronutrient requirements. In some cases, micronutrient status (e.g., vitamin D and iron) should be monitored and optimized if appropriate by a medical professional. Dietary supplement use is prevalent amongst youth athletes, however is often unnecessary. Education of youth athletes, their parents and coaches on best nutritional practices as well as the risks associated with dietary supplements is vital for their long-term athletic development. Further research in youth winter sports athletes across different stages of growth and maturation competing in a variety of sports is urgently required in order to inform nutritional guidelines for this population.

Highlights

Despite a wealth of sport nutrition guidelines for adult athletes (e.g., Thomas et al, 2016), there are only a few review papers for winter sports athletes (e.g., Meyer et al, 2011) and even fewer original research papers on the nutrition needs or practices of youth winter sports athletes
Growth and maturation increase the size of glycogen stores and the relative energy contribution from anaerobic metabolism during exercise, but decreases relative rates of exogenous carbohydrate substrate utilization during exercise. These factors may lead to an increased reliance on carbohydrate for energy supply in early compared with late adolescence during endurance, strength/power, teamplay or skill sports, but no data are currently available in youth athletes
An energy availability of ≥45 kcal·kg fat free mass (FFM)−1·day−1 is recommended for adult athletes to maintain normal physiological function (Loucks et al, 2011)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Despite a wealth of sport nutrition guidelines for adult athletes (e.g., Thomas et al, 2016), there are only a few review papers for winter sports athletes (e.g., Meyer et al, 2011) and even fewer original research papers on the nutrition needs or practices of youth winter sports athletes. Growth and maturation increase the size of glycogen stores and the relative energy contribution from anaerobic metabolism during exercise, but decreases relative rates of exogenous carbohydrate substrate utilization during exercise (for reviews see Armstrong et al, 2015, Ratel and Blazevich, 2017) These factors may lead to an increased reliance on carbohydrate for energy supply in early compared with late adolescence during endurance (e.g., cross-country skiing), strength/power (e.g., luge), teamplay (e.g., ice hockey) or skill (e.g., curling) sports, but no data are currently available in youth athletes. In healthy physically active humans, exercise energy expenditure is the most variable contributor to TEE

Energy Vitamin D Iron Hydration

Vitamin D

DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS

Findings

CONCLUSION