Nutritional Knowledge and Behavior of Elite Brazilian Athletes

Abstract

Dietary intake is considered an important determinant of exercise performance, adaptation to training and recovery from exercise. However, it is unknown whether elite athletes have sufficient knowledge to optimize their nutritional practices for maximum performance. PURPOSE: to determine (1) the influence of nutritional knowledge on the dietary behavior of elite Brazilian athletes (2) if there are gender differences. METHODS: A total of 126 Brazilian athletes (61 males, 24.9±4.7 yrs, and 65 females, 24.0±4.10 yrs) who participated in individual or team events during the 2015 Pan-American Games were recruited. Athletes were asked simple nutritional questions as a part of a larger questionnaire. They were asked to mark “agree” or “disagree” for a given knowledge statement regarding nutrition. Questions were also asked to determine the use of supplements and the rationale for using them. The questionnaire was administered when it did not interfere with their training routine or competitive events. RESULTS: Almost all athletes (96.8%) recognized that optimal nutritional practice was required during training, recovery and to maximize performance. Most athletes knew the caloric and nutritional requirements for training (77.2%) and recovery (77.3%). However, only half (50.4%) knew the nutritional requirement to optimize performance. Most of the athletes were taking supplements. Only 53.4% of the athletes knew whether the supplements were certified to be contaminant free and 11% considered it safe to use supplements. Protein (57.5%) and creatine (79.5 %) were the two supplements most commonly recommended by dieticians. Protein supplements was used by 73.8% of males and 62.5% of females. The purpose for protein supplementation was for increasing muscle mass (34.5%), delay fatigue (62%) and improve muscular recovery (24.2%). Creatine was used by 16.6 % if athletes to increase performance in power events. Both genders had misconceptions that protein (65%), vitamins and minerals (86.5%) are major energy requirement for muscle contraction. CONCLUSION: There was a large variance in basic nutritional knowledge in both male and female athletes. The greatest concern was the use of supplements by the athletes and their lack of knowledge in the safety and the purity of the supplements.