In-season dietary adequacy of trained male cross-country runners

The purpose of this study was to determine the dietary adequacy of 12 collegiate cross-country runners during a competitive season. Four-day diet records were collected twice during the season and analyzed for total daily energy, macronutrients, vitamin A, vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, iron, magnesium, zinc, and calcium. Mean energy intake (3,248 +/- 590 kcal) was not significantly different from estimated mean energy expenditure (3,439 +/- 244 kcal). Week 8 mean prealbumin levels were within normal limits (26.8 +/- 2.8 mg/dl). Mean daily CHO intake was 497 +/- 134 g/day (61.2%). Three to four hours prior to competition a pre-race meal was consumed; it contained 82 +/- 47 g CHO. Postcompetition CHO intake was delayed an average 2.5 hr; at that time approximately 2.6 +/- 0.69 g CHO/kg body weight was consumed. The athletes appeared to demonstrate dietary adequacy with the exception of timing of postcompetition carbohydrate consumption.