Dietary patterns, gastrointestinal complaints, and nutrition knowledge of recreational triathletes

Article Abstract:

The currently prevailing philosophy concerning the nutritional needs of athletes is that they require the same balance of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins and minerals as persons not involved in strenuous exercise. But athletes involved in certain sports may burn up two to five times as much energy as nonathletes and, therefore, need to consume large amounts of additional calories. One group that may have special nutritional needs is triathletes. Their intense schedule of training and competition, often with several sessions on one day or on consecutive days, means that they may miss meals, deplete their nutrient stores, and develop digestive problems. A survey was conducted to evaluate the diet, gastrointestinal symptoms, and nutrition knowledge of 50 male and 21 female triathletes. The average training time per week for biking, running and swimming was 11 hours, which frequently represented several sessions daily. Women consumed an average of 9,058 calories and men consumed 11,591 calories per day. The proportion of calories from carbohydrates was 54 percent on average. The intakes of vitamins and minerals were usually above the RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance), with the exception of zinc and copper, for which over 60 percent of the subjects had low intakes. Iron intake was low among the female athletes. Thirty-nine percent took a daily multivitamin and mineral supplement, which often brought nutrient intakes to levels well above the RDA. In general, knowledge of nutrition was very good, but subjects also expressed certain misconceptions, such as peanut butter is high in cholesterol. Half the triathletes had complaints of upper gastrointestinal distress, such as bloating and gas, and out of 30 subjects who tested their stools for occult (hidden) blood, 27 percent did have evidence of bleeding. It is not known how this finding relates to their diet and training schedule. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Surveys, Food and nutrition, Nutrition, Athletes, Women athletes

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Carbohydrate intake and body mass index in relation to the risk of glucose intolerance in an elderly population

Article Abstract:

Glucose intolerance and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) are metabolic disorders that are common in the elderly. People with these disorders should not eat large amounts of sugar because their bodies have lost the ability to control the amount of sugar in the blood. Glucose intolerance can be considered a milder form of NIDDM, as blood sugar levels are less severely elevated and the treatment may be less extensive. In addition to age and genetic factors, obesity, smoking, lack of physical exercise, elevated levels of fat (lipids) in the blood, and drinking alcohol can increase the risk of developing glucose intolerance and NIDDM. Previous studies have reported that large amounts of refined sugar in the diet may cause NIDDM, while fiber may protect against NIDDM. To gain a better understanding of the relationship between the amount of carbohydrates consumed in the diet, body mass index (BMI, a measure of obesity), and the development of glucose intolerance and NIDDM, 175 elderly adults aged 64 to 87 with normal blood glucose were examined over a four-year period. During the study period, 59 of the subjects developed glucose intolerance. On average, those who developed glucose intolerance had a higher BMI (were more obese) and ate more pastries (which are high in carbohydrates) than those who did not develop glucose intolerance. Also, those who did not develop glucose intolerance ate more legumes (peas and beans) than those who developed glucose intolerance. It is concluded that obesity and eating foods high in carbohydrates increase the risk of developing glucose intolerance in the elderly. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Elderly, Complications and side effects, Risk factors, Diabetes mellitus, Obesity, Type 2 diabetes, Carbohydrates, High-carbohydrate diet, High carbohydrate diet, Diabetes in old age

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