Sports Dietitians Research Articles

Nutrition and Athletic Performance

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine that physical activity, athletic performance, and recovery from exercise are enhanced by optimal nutrition. These organizations recommend appropriate selection of foods and fluids, timing of intake, and supplement choices for optimal health and exercise performance. This updated position paper couples a rigorous, systematic, evidence-based analysis of nutrition and performance-specific literature with current scientific data related to energy needs, assessment of body composition, strategies for weight change, nutrient and fluid needs, special nutrient needs during training and competition, the use of supplements and ergogenic aids, nutrition recommendations for vegetarian athletes, and the roles and responsibilities of the sports dietitian. Energy and macronutrient needs, especially carbohydrate and protein, must be met during times of high physical activity to maintain body weight, replenish glycogen stores, and provide adequate protein to build and repair tissue. Fat intake should be sufficient to provide the essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins and to contribute energy for weight maintenance. Although exercise performance can be affected by body weight and composition, these physical measures should not be a criterion for sports performance and daily weigh-ins are discouraged. Adequate food and fluid should be consumed before, during, and after exercise to help maintain blood glucose concentration during exercise, maximize exercise performance, and improve recovery time. Athletes should be well hydrated before exercise and drink enough fluid during and after exercise to balance fluid losses. Sports beverages containing carbohydrates and electrolytes may be consumed before, during, and after exercise to help maintain blood glucose concentration, provide fuel for muscles, and decrease risk of dehydration and hyponatremia. Vitamin and mineral supplements are not needed if adequate energy to maintain body weight is consumed from a variety of foods. However, athletes who restrict energy intake, use severe weight-loss practices, eliminate one or more food groups from their diet, or consume unbalanced diets with low micronutrient density may require supplements. Because regulations specific to nutritional ergogenic aids are poorly enforced, they should be used with caution and only after careful product evaluation for safety, efficacy, potency, and legality. A qualified sports dietitian and, in particular, the Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics in the United States, should provide individualized nutrition direction and advice after a comprehensive nutrition assessment.

Las competencias profesionales del nutricionista deportivo

OBJETIVO: El artículo presenta los resultados obtenidos en la investigación que dio origen a la tesis doctoral defendida por la autora en la Universitat de Lleida (España), cuyo objetivo fue identificar las Competencias Profesionales de los nutricionistas que trabajan en el ámbito de la Nutrición Deportiva. MÉTODOS: Fueron investigados 14 expertos provenientes de Australia (n=1), Brasil (n=7), España (n=3) y Estados Unidos (n=3). La herramienta metodológica utilizada fue la técnica Delphi, compuesta de tres rondas de cuestionarios. En la primera ronda los expertos proporcionaron, a través de sus discursos, la identificación de un listado de Competencias Profesionales, información que en la segunda y tercera ronda pudieron ser evaluadas y posteriormente analizadas a través de cálculos estadísticos descriptivos (media, moda, mediana y desviación Standard). RESULTADOS: De esta manera, se llegó al consenso entre los expertos sobre 147 competencias profesionales identificadas. Las competencias fueron clasificadas en cuatro macro categorías de Competencias Profesionales: Competencias Técnicas (38), Metodológicas (62), Participativas (24) y Personales (23). CONCLUSIÓN: Los resultados demostraron que el estudio sistematizado de las Competencias Profesionales del Nutricionista Deportivo contribuye para el establecimiento de los contenidos que deben componer la disciplina de Nutrición Deportiva a ser incorporada en los itinerarios curriculares de las carreras de Nutrición Humana y Dietética.

Symposium on ‘Performance, exercise and health’ Practical aspects of nutrition in performance

The importance of nutrition in sport has been recognised since the ancient Olympians, and its role in improving both health and sports performance has widespread acceptance. However, in sporting circles nutritional knowledge, beliefs and practices are extremely varied. Within any sporting organisation the sports dietitian or nutritionist must be able to work with athletes, their family, coaches and other support staff to develop and monitor realistic and practical strategies that work best for each performer, contributing to a positive and sustained outcome on performance. The present review examines the practical application of current key issues in performance nutrition, highlighting the advantages of early intervention in youth development and comprehensive and integrated nutrition services.

Towards an Understanding of the Barriers to Good Nutrition for Elite Athletes

The objective of this study was to describe barriers influencing dietary practices of elite-level athletes using a focus-group design involving discussions with elite-level athletes, coaches and sports dietitians. The participants were sixteen male and thirty female elite athletes from an Australian State Institute of Sport, representing diving, netball, basketball and lawn bowls; twelve elite coaches representing swimming, diving, soccer, sailing, cycling and golf; and sixteen sports dietitians who consulted to state institutes/academies of sport with various sports. Focus groups were audio-taped and transcribed with in-depth notes also recorded during the groups. Thematic coding of transcripts and notes were undertaken by the primary coder and these themes were subsequently evaluated by the research team. A number of barriers to healthy eating were described. Lack of time for food preparation was a significant barrier raised by all groups. Financial limitations, inadequate cooking skills and difficulty with living arrangements also rated high among all three groups. Coaches were concerned with excess body weight and fat levels and perceived an impact on sports performance. Athletes reported concern about body shape due to societal pressures. Sports dietitians and coaches were concerned with issues relating to optimal dietary provision surrounding travel to and from training and competition. A range of barriers influence the diet of athletes, in particular time and financial constraints in addition to specific physique requirements. Health professionals working with elite athletes need to be aware of these barriers when assessing dietary intake, or designing nutrition interventions. Dietitians may need to advocate on behalf of athletes to facilitate increased financial or professional support to assist athletes to choose and then maintain healthy diet practices.

Position of the New Zealand Dietetic Association (Inc): Nutrition for exercise and sport in New Zealand

Position of the New Zealand Dietetic Association (Inc): Nutrition for exercise and sport in New Zealand

122 Competition nutrition strategies of the 2004 Australian Paralympic swimming team

Optimum nutrition is essential for peak performance in elite athletes. However, past research has focussed on developing nutritional strategies for able-bodied athletes, leaving doubt as to whether these guidelines are suitable for the growing number of athletes with disabilities. In this study, members of the 2004 Australian Paralympic swimming team (n=26, 14F, 12M) completed a 31-item self-administered questionnaire about their nutritional strategies before competition. The team included 11 amputees, 7 cerebral palsy, 2 spinal cord injured, 2 vision impaired and 4 Les autres. Most swimmers had received some dietary advice (81%), however only 65% had received advice from a sports dietitian. While 46% of the team commenced their dietary preparation at least 3d before competition (BC), 34% (7F, 2M) commenced 24h BC. During the week BC, 69% of the swimmers reported that they had consumed the same amount of food, with 57% increasing carbohydrate, 76% maintaining protein and 69% decreasing fat. A majority increased water (77%) and sports drinks (54%) consumption BC. Most swimmers (88%) had their last meal 3-4h BC, with 42% consuming high carbohydrate items at this time. In addition, the majority of athletes consumed a high carbohydrate snack (88.5%) within one hour after competition. In contrast, the majority (73%) reported that they had no energy with 69% ‘feeling flat’ on competition day. The survey findings indicated that the competition dietary strategies adopted by the Paralympic swimmers appeared to follow current recommendations, however strategies varied between individuals and may not have been appropriate for achieving peak performance.

A High School Soccer Player with Energy Deficiency

A High School Soccer Player with Energy Deficiency

Special innovative course in "sports rehabilitation specialists, dietitians, and pharmacology" in the system of training teachers of physical culture

Special innovative course in "sports rehabilitation specialists, dietitians, and pharmacology" in the system of training teachers of physical culture

A Critical Examination of Dietary Protein Requirements, Benefits, and Excesses in Athletes

There is likely no other dietary component that inspires as much debate, insofar as athletes are concerned, as protein. How much dietary protein is required, optimal, or excessive? Dietary guidelines from a variety of sources have settled on an adequate dietary protein intake for those over the age of 19 of ~0.8-0.9 g protein.kg body weight(-1).d(-1). According to U.S. and Canadian dietary reference intakes (33), the recommended allowance for protein of 0.8 g protein.kg(-1).d(-1) is "the average daily intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all [~98%] . . . healthy individuals" (p. 22). The panel also stated, "in view of the lack of compelling evidence to the contrary, no additional dietary protein is suggested for healthy adults undertaking resistance or endurance exercise" (33, p. 661). Currently, no group or groups of scientists involved in establishing dietary guidelines see a need for any statement that athletes or people engaging in regular physical activity require more protein than their sedentary counterparts. Popular magazines, numerous Web sites, trainers, and many athletes decry protein intakes even close to those recommended. Even joint position stands from policy-setting groups state that "protein recommendations for endurance athletes are 1.2 to 1.4 g/kg body weight per day, whereas those for resistance and strength-trained athletes may be as high as 1.6 to 1.7 g/kg body weight per day" (1, p. 1544). The divide between those setting dietary protein requirements and those who might be making practical recommendations for athletes appears substantial, but ultimately, most athletes indicate that they consume protein at levels beyond even the highest recommendations. Thus, one might conclude that any debate on protein "requirements" for athletes is inconsequential; however, a critical analysis of existing and new data reveals novel ideas and concepts that may represent some common ground between these apparently conflicted groups. The goal of this review was to provide a critical and thorough analysis of current data on protein requirements in an attempt to provide some guidance to athletes, trainers, coaches, and sport dietitians on athletes' protein intake. In addition, an effort was made to clearly distinguish between "required" dietary protein, "optimal" intakes, and intakes that are likely "excessive," perhaps not from the standpoint of health, but certainly from the standpoint of potentially compromised performance.

Dietary Studies of Athletes: An Interview with Sports Dietitian Bronwen Lundy

Dietary Studies of Athletes: An Interview with Sports Dietitian Bronwen Lundy

Nutrição para os praticantes de exercício em grandes altitudes

Quando o atleta ascende a uma grande altitude, ele é exposto a uma pressão barométrica reduzida, e os efeitos fisiológicos que acompanham estas mudanças da pressão atmosférica podem ter grande influência sobre o seu organismo e seu desempenho físico. Acredita-se que a hipóxia seja responsável pelo início de uma cascata de eventos sinalizadores que, ao final, levam à adaptação à altitude. A exposição aguda à hipóxia provoca sonolência, fadiga mental e muscular e prostração. Cefaléia, náusea e anorexia são sintomas provocados pela Doença Aguda das Montanhas, que pode ocorrer nos primeiros dias de permanência na altitude. Uma estratégia nutricional adequada é fundamental para que o organismo não sofra nenhum estresse adicional. O objetivo deste trabalho foi apresentar os principais efeitos da altitude sobre o organismo e sobre o desempenho físico, discutir e/ou sugerir recomendações nutricionais para esta situação e, se possível, apresentar uma orientação nutricional prática para o atleta na altitude. Algumas das principais conclusões encontradas foram: o consumo energético deve ser aumentado; é fundamental monitorar a quantidade de líquidos ingeridos e escolher alimentos agradáveis ao paladar, ricos em energia e nutrientes. Recomenda-se trabalhar com um nutricionista do esporte com antecedência, para que um plano alimentar individual seja elaborado e colocado em prática antes mesmo da viagem à altitude.

Nutrition for Winter Sports: An Interview with Sports Dietitian Susie Parker-Simmons

Nutrition for Winter Sports: An Interview with Sports Dietitian Susie Parker-Simmons

Development of a psychometrically valid and reliable sports nutrition knowledge questionnaire

The present range of sports nutrition knowledge questionnaires have inadequate psychometric validation, and few are up to date in a rapidly changing discipline. The purpose of this study was to design a sports nutrition questionnaire that satisfied acceptable psychometric criteria of validity (content and construct) and reliability (test-retest). The questionnaire was designed by an expert panel of six sports dietitians and distributed to five groups, selected for their expected variation in sports nutrition knowledge. Dietitians, university business staff and nutrition students received questionnaires via e-mail. The response rates obtained were 21.3% (n = 49), 34.4% (n = 33), and 72.0% (n = 18), respectively. University business and fitness students completed questionnaires during class time. Response rates were 52.3% (n = 23) and 75.4% (n = 49), respectively. The questionnaire was administered a second time to the business staff and the dietitians to assess test-retest reliability. Two methods were used: 1, Pearson's product-moment correlation; and 2, a percentage calculation of questions answered in an identical manner on both test occasions. Reliability was acceptable with Method 1 yielding acceptable values (r = 0.74-0.93), aside from the fluid sub-category (r = 0.52). Method 2 showed good test-retest concordance with 81.2% duplication of responses of all questions. Construct validity was high, as indicated by significant mean knowledge score differences between the groups (p = 0.0001). Dietitians and nutrition students achieved significantly greater mean scores than the remaining groups. The findings of this study indicate that the questionnaire is suitably valid and reliable to be used in research and practice to determine sports nutrition knowledge.

A Call to Sports Dietitians: Interview with Nanna Meyer

A Call to Sports Dietitians: Interview with Nanna Meyer

Sports Dietitians: Vital Team Players in any Athletic Setting

Sports Dietitians: Vital Team Players in any Athletic Setting

Nutrition for open water sailing: an interview with Jeni Pearce, sports dietitian.

The article in the current issue of IJSNEM on the nutritional needs of a trans-Atlantic rowing event illustrates that our seas and oceans provide great opportunities for extreme sports. Open-water sailing is another unpredictable and nutritionally challenging ultra-endurance sport. In this issue, I talk with Jeni Pearce, a sports dietitian from Auckland, New Zealand, who is internationally renowned for her work with competitors in a number of the world’s greatest open-water events.

Sports nutrition recommendations of Australian sports dietitians

Sports nutrition recommendations of Australian sports dietitians

スポーツ選手のサプリメント摂取 コンディション維持とパフォーマンス向上のために

Dietary supplementation is being increasingly applied by athletes to maintain physical condition and improve performance. This brief review summarizes the classification and role of nutritional ergogenics in the requirements for energy, protein/amino acids, vitamins and minerals in sports. Guidelines are shown for the theory, effectiveness, safety, legal and ethical aspects to evaluate the claims made for ergogenic aids. Recommendations for using dietary supplements during a program of weight reduction, during vigorous training, and before and during exercise are described. The aspects of nutritional education and dietary support for the suitable use of supplements by young and adult athletes, and the role of sports dietitians are briefly described.

Helping Adolescent Athletes Achieve a Gold-Medal Diet

As any sports dietitians and nutritionists already know, nutritional recommendations for elite, Olympic-level athletes are principally designed for young adults—even though many of the athletes competing at that level are still in their lower-to-mid teens.

Nutrition and sport

Nutrition and sport