Dietary Intake and Diet Quality of Female and Male NCAA Division I Cross Country Runners from a Single University
Background: Collegiate student-athletes have unique nutritional requirements to support their athletic performance and health. Few studies have comprehensively characterized the diets of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I student-athletes. Objectives: To characterize dietary...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Current Developments in Nutrition |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299124024090 |
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| Summary: | Background: Collegiate student-athletes have unique nutritional requirements to support their athletic performance and health. Few studies have comprehensively characterized the diets of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I student-athletes. Objectives: To characterize dietary intake and diet quality during a competitive season in female and male NCAA Division I cross country student-athletes from a single university. Methods: Females and males (n = 14/sex) from the Florida State University cross country teams completed 9-d of food records across their competitive season. Nutrient intakes were compared to the Dietary Reference Intakes for the United States population [e.g., Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs)] and athlete-specific guidelines. Diet quality was assessed according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) using the 2020 Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2020). Total daily energy expenditure was estimated from training records. Results: Carbohydrate intakes were below athlete guidelines in 43% of females (mean ± SD, 5.67 ± 1.16 g·kg–1·d–1) and 29% of males (4.95 ± 1.05, P sex = 0.096). All participants met or exceeded athlete recommendations for protein (2.09 ± 0.425 g·kg–1·d–1, 1.92 ± 0.519, P sex = 0.36) and fat (32.8 ± 5.1% kcal, 34.4 ± 3.4%, P sex = 0.36). No participants met the RDA for vitamin D (5.14 ± 1.78 μg/d, 4.91 ± 3.24, P sex = 0.83). Only 79% of females and 36% of males met the RDA for calcium (1220 ± 307 mg/d, 1010 ± 296, P sex = 0.83). Most females (n = 13) and males (n = 11) consumed iron supplements where total intakes exceeded the tolerable upper intake level (110 ± 60.1 mg/d, 66.8 ± 36.3, P sex = 0.029). HEI-2020 indicated poor adherence to the DGAs, with better diet quality in females (65.3 ± 13.7) than males (50.6 ± 10.1, P sex = 0.0034). Participants failed to meet guidelines for all HEI-2020 food group components except total protein foods. Total daily energy expenditure was greater in males and declined across the competitive season (P sex < 0.0001, P time < 0.0001, P sex∗time = 0.25). Conclusions: NCAA Division I cross country student-athletes consumed inadequate carbohydrates, calcium, and vitamin D but met or exceeded intake guidelines for protein, fat, and iron. Diet quality was poor; HEI-2020 component scores may indicate food groups to target to improve diet quality and intake of nutrients important to runners.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04079322. |
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| ISSN: | 2475-2991 |