The document outlines the dietary requirements of athletes compared to normal requirements. It discusses how athletes have higher energy, carbohydrate, protein, and micronutrient needs. Specific guidelines are provided on recommended daily intake of these nutrients for athletes. The document also discusses some commonly used supplements for athletes and the scientific rationale for these supplements. Female athletes in particular are noted to be at risk for certain nutrient deficiencies due to low energy intake and sports that encourage leanness.

1. Athletes Nutrition
Presenter: Rinad Ali
Course name: Clinical Nutrition
Course Code: 702

2. Objectives:
 Outline the dietary requirements of athletes and
compare to normal requirement.
 Outline some commonly used supplements and the
scientific basis behind it.
 Present an argument for or against the use of
supplements

3. Outline the dietary requirements of
athletes and compare to normal
requirement.
 Dietary requirement for normal adults
 Dietary requirement for athletics
 Energy
 Macronutrients
 Micronutrients
 Nutrition for female athletes

4. Dietary requirement for normal
adults
Nutrient Quantity Per Day
Energy 2000Kcalorie
Protein 50 grams
Fat 70 grams
Saturated Fatty Acids 24 grams
Carbohydrates 310 grams
Sugars 90 grams
Dietary Fiber 30 grams
Sodium (salt) 2.3 grams

5. Energy
 Each athlete has unique energy requirements, which
support their ability to meet total nutritional goals.
 For everyday dietary planning and evaluation, energy
requirements can be predicted via estimations of RMR
and activity levels. Research methods such as indirect
calorimetry and DLW allow energy requirements to be
measured, and may be useful to confirm situations in
which an athlete has a true energy balance
abnormality.

6.  Many athletes are over-focused on reducing body
mass and body fat below levels that are consistent with
long-term health and performance.
 Restrained eating can cause significant detrimental
outcomes to body function.
 Leptin may be involved in modulating or mediating
some of these changes.

7. Energy
Needs
Calories
Consumed
Calories
Expended

8. Carbohydrate
 Official dietary guidelines for athletes are agreed in
their recommendation of high carbohydrate.
 carbohydrate intake ranges of 5 to 7 g/kg/day for
general training needs and 7 to 10 g/kg/day for the
increased needs of endurance athletes.

9. Why are Carbohydrates
Important for Athletes?
 Carbohydrates are one of the most important nutrients
needed in an athlete’s diet.
 Carbohydrates are vital to help reach peak
performance during physical activity because they
provide:
1. Energy
2. Muscle Gain

10. Muscle Gain
 Without an adequate amount of stored glucose
in the body, other nutrients, such as fat or muscle
protein, are utilized to make energy.
 With the correct amount of carbohydrates available
to muscles, protein can be free to do its main job of
repairing and rebuilding muscle tissue, which
maximizes muscle gain.

11. Protein
 The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for
protein, 0.8 g/kg of body weight per day, is designed to
maintain nitrogen balance in the body for the average
adult; a negative nitrogen balance indicates that
muscle is being broken down and used for energy.
 While maintaining nitrogen balance is critical for
health, studies now suggest that the RDA may not be
the amount of protein needed to promote optimal
health.

12.  To achieve that, they say, more protein is needed, and
studies now suggest that athletes, active people, and
older individuals require even more.
 A study recently published in the Journal of Nutrition
found that muscle protein synthesis was 25% higher
when protein was distributed across the three meals
compared to when most protein was consumed at one
meal, even when total protein intake was the same.

13.  A number of well-controlled studies are now published
in which “higher” protein diets have been shown to be
effective in promoting weight reduction, particularly fat
loss.
 Of relevance to athletes and those in clinical practice
is the fact that higher protein diets have quite
consistently been shown to result in greater weight
loss, greater fat loss, and preservation of lean mass as
compared with “lower” protein diets.

14. Protein-Rich Foods
 Beef steak (3.5 oz): 29 g
 Salmon (4 oz): 29 g
 Lentils (1 cup): 18 g
 Greek yogurt (5 oz): 14 g
 Skim milk (8 oz): 8 g
 Tofu, firm (3.5 oz): 7 g
 Egg (1 large): 6 g

15. Protein Specific Guidelines
 Develop a meal plan that will supply adequate calories,
carbohydrate, and protein each day.
 Distribute the protein equally across meals.
 Emphasize high-quality protein.
 Base protein intake on weight, not on percentage of
calories.
 Base protein intake on the individual’s sport and
intensity level.

16. Fat
 Adequate intake of fat is necessary for numerous
metabolic activities that promote optimal health. For
example, vitamins A, D, and E require fat for proper
absorption. Fat intake for an athlete should range
between 20-35% of total daily calories.
 Current dietary guidelines recommend that 10% of fat
intake should come from monounsaturated sources,
10% from polyunsaturated sources, and no more than
10% from saturated fat.

17. The Effect of Diet on Physical
Endurance
Maximum
endurance time:
57 min
167 min
114 minNormal mixed diet
Fat and protein diet
High-carbohydrate diet

18. Micronutrients
 Micronutrients function in a variety of roles that optimize
health. They are involved in energy production, blood
synthesis, maintenance of bone health, and immune
function.
 They also aid in the process of muscle and tissue repair
during recovery from exercise or injury.
 Vegetarian athletes may be at risk for low intakes of
iron, calcium, vitamin D, riboflavin, zinc and vitamin
B12.

19. Nutrition for female athletes

20.  Inadequate nutritional intake is more common in
female athletes than in their male counterparts. Proper
diet is vital for active individuals to maintain adequate
energy during physical activity and for postactivity
recovery.
 Female athletes, particularly endurance athletes, are
less likely to achieve the previous carbohydrate intake
guidelines. This is due to chronic or periodic restriction
of total energy intake in order to achieve or maintain
low levels of body fat.

21.  Female athletes who participate in sports that
encourage leanness such as gymnastics, distance
running, diving, and classical ballet, have inadequate
nutritional intake.[5, 6]
 Koutedakis and Jamurtas found that female dancers
consume less than 70% of recommended daily energy
needs.[7, 8]
 Female athletes are at increased risk for iron, calcium,
vitamin B, and zinc deficiencies. These nutrients are
vital for building bone and muscle and for energy
production. Vegetarians are particularly at risk for

22. Some commonly used
supplements & the scientific
basis behind it.

23. References
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