Dietary intake and supplement use in female master cyclists and runners

This study compared the dietary intakes of supplementing (SA) and non-supplementing athletes (NSA). Twenty-five female master athletes (mean age = 50.4 yr) participated in the study (SA=16, NSA=9). Four-day diet records were analyzed using Nutritionist V. Statistical significance (p<.005) was determined by independent t tests. No significant differences were observed in intakes of kilocalories (SA=2079 +/- 628 kcals, NSA=2001 +/- 435 kcals), protein (SA=104 +/- 75 g, NSA=84 +/- 35 g), fat (SA=65 +/- 39 g, NSA=61 +/- 22 g), or carbohydrates (SA=269 +/- 112 g, NSA=277 +/- 43 g). Mean intakes exceeded Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) guidelines for all micro-nutrients except calcium and vitamin E (NSA=79% and 87% of DRI, respectively). SA had significantly greater total intakes than NSA for calcium (p=.0001), magnesium (p=.004), vitamin C (p=.003), and vitamin E (p=.001). Results suggest that female master athletes may rely on dietary supplements rather than nutrient-dense food choices to provide daily nutritional needs.