Nutrition Knowledge Is Associated with Energy Availability and Carbohydrate Intake in Young Female Cross-Country Skiers
The aim of this study was to provide information on energy availability (EA), macronutrient intake, nutritional periodization practices, and nutrition knowledge in young female cross-country skiers. A total of 19 skiers filled in weighted food and training logs before and during a training camp. Nut...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/6/1769 |
| _version_ | 1797533081190531072 |
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| author | Oona Kettunen Maria Heikkilä Vesa Linnamo Johanna K. Ihalainen |
| author_facet | Oona Kettunen Maria Heikkilä Vesa Linnamo Johanna K. Ihalainen |
| author_sort | Oona Kettunen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study was to provide information on energy availability (EA), macronutrient intake, nutritional periodization practices, and nutrition knowledge in young female cross-country skiers. A total of 19 skiers filled in weighted food and training logs before and during a training camp. Nutrition knowledge was assessed via a validated questionnaire. EA was optimal in 11% of athletes at home (mean 33.7 ± 9.6 kcal·kgFFM<sup>−1</sup>·d<sup>−1</sup>) and in 42% at camp (mean 40.3 ± 17.3 kcal·kgFFM<sup>−1</sup>·d<sup>−1</sup>). Most athletes (74%) failed to meet recommendations for carbohydrate intake at home (mean 5.0 ± 1.2 g·kg<sup>−1</sup>·d<sup>−1</sup>) and 63% failed to do so at camp (mean 7.1 ± 1.6 g·kg<sup>−1</sup>·d<sup>−1</sup>). The lower threshold of the pre-exercise carbohydrate recommendations was met by 58% and 89% of athletes while percentages were 26% and 89% within 1 h after exercise, at home and at camp, respectively. None of the athletes met the recommendations within 4 h after exercise. Nutrition knowledge was associated with EA at home (r = 0.52, <i>p</i> = 0.023), and with daily carbohydrate intake at home (r = 0.62, <i>p</i> = 0.005) and at camp (r = 0.52, <i>p</i> = 0.023). Carbohydrate intake within 1 and 4 h post-exercise at home was associated with better nutrition knowledge (r = 0.65, <i>p</i> = 0.003; r = 0.53, <i>p</i> = 0.019, respectively). In conclusion, young female cross-county skiers had difficulties meeting recommendations for optimal EA and carbohydrate intake. Better nutrition knowledge may help young athletes to meet these recommendations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:09:29Z |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:09:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-94ff308f813449bfb833f9604478b8ec2023-11-21T20:54:30ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432021-05-01136176910.3390/nu13061769Nutrition Knowledge Is Associated with Energy Availability and Carbohydrate Intake in Young Female Cross-Country SkiersOona Kettunen0Maria Heikkilä1Vesa Linnamo2Johanna K. Ihalainen3Sports Technology Unit Vuokatti, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Kidekuja 2, 88610 Vuokatti, FinlandDepartment of Food and Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014 Helsinki, FinlandSports Technology Unit Vuokatti, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Kidekuja 2, 88610 Vuokatti, FinlandFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Rautpohjankatu 8, 40014 Jyväskylä, FinlandThe aim of this study was to provide information on energy availability (EA), macronutrient intake, nutritional periodization practices, and nutrition knowledge in young female cross-country skiers. A total of 19 skiers filled in weighted food and training logs before and during a training camp. Nutrition knowledge was assessed via a validated questionnaire. EA was optimal in 11% of athletes at home (mean 33.7 ± 9.6 kcal·kgFFM<sup>−1</sup>·d<sup>−1</sup>) and in 42% at camp (mean 40.3 ± 17.3 kcal·kgFFM<sup>−1</sup>·d<sup>−1</sup>). Most athletes (74%) failed to meet recommendations for carbohydrate intake at home (mean 5.0 ± 1.2 g·kg<sup>−1</sup>·d<sup>−1</sup>) and 63% failed to do so at camp (mean 7.1 ± 1.6 g·kg<sup>−1</sup>·d<sup>−1</sup>). The lower threshold of the pre-exercise carbohydrate recommendations was met by 58% and 89% of athletes while percentages were 26% and 89% within 1 h after exercise, at home and at camp, respectively. None of the athletes met the recommendations within 4 h after exercise. Nutrition knowledge was associated with EA at home (r = 0.52, <i>p</i> = 0.023), and with daily carbohydrate intake at home (r = 0.62, <i>p</i> = 0.005) and at camp (r = 0.52, <i>p</i> = 0.023). Carbohydrate intake within 1 and 4 h post-exercise at home was associated with better nutrition knowledge (r = 0.65, <i>p</i> = 0.003; r = 0.53, <i>p</i> = 0.019, respectively). In conclusion, young female cross-county skiers had difficulties meeting recommendations for optimal EA and carbohydrate intake. Better nutrition knowledge may help young athletes to meet these recommendations.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/6/1769endurance athletemacronutrientperiodized nutritionproteinsports nutritionwinter sport |
| spellingShingle | Oona Kettunen Maria Heikkilä Vesa Linnamo Johanna K. Ihalainen Nutrition Knowledge Is Associated with Energy Availability and Carbohydrate Intake in Young Female Cross-Country Skiers Nutrients endurance athlete macronutrient periodized nutrition protein sports nutrition winter sport |
| title | Nutrition Knowledge Is Associated with Energy Availability and Carbohydrate Intake in Young Female Cross-Country Skiers |
| title_full | Nutrition Knowledge Is Associated with Energy Availability and Carbohydrate Intake in Young Female Cross-Country Skiers |
| title_fullStr | Nutrition Knowledge Is Associated with Energy Availability and Carbohydrate Intake in Young Female Cross-Country Skiers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutrition Knowledge Is Associated with Energy Availability and Carbohydrate Intake in Young Female Cross-Country Skiers |
| title_short | Nutrition Knowledge Is Associated with Energy Availability and Carbohydrate Intake in Young Female Cross-Country Skiers |
| title_sort | nutrition knowledge is associated with energy availability and carbohydrate intake in young female cross country skiers |
| topic | endurance athlete macronutrient periodized nutrition protein sports nutrition winter sport |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/6/1769 |
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