Nutritional intake in high-performance para athletes

Area of Science:

• Sports Nutrition
• Para-athletics Nutrition
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Understanding the dietary patterns of para-athletes is crucial for optimizing performance and health.
• Specialized training centers provide unique environments to study the nutritional status of elite para-athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the eating habits of para-athletes undergoing training at a Brazilian center.
• To investigate the influence of sociodemographic and sports-related factors on nutrient intake.

Main Methods:

• A food frequency questionnaire assessed energy, macronutrient, fiber, cholesterol, and micronutrient intake over 12 months.
• Sociodemographic data, including self-reported weight and height, were collected.
• Statistical analyses examined nutrient intake differences based on sex, age, BMI, and sports career duration.

Main Results:

• Median energy intake was 4089 kcal, with significant variations in macronutrient consumption.
• Adolescent athletes consumed more protein, while those with longer careers had lower fiber and thiamine intake.
• Higher BMI and older age correlated with increased alcohol and monounsaturated fat intake.

Conclusions:

• Male para-athletes exhibited higher saturated fat intake compared to females.
• Younger athletes showed greater protein intake (g/kg) than older athletes.
• Sociodemographic factors like career length, age, and income significantly impact para-athlete dietary intake.