The aim of the present study was to analyse dietary habits and fluid intake of professional basketball players with consideration of dietary guidelines and sport nutrition recommendations. A dietary habit questionnaire including a 24 h recall was recorded by 55 elite basketball players of the first Spanish Basketball League. Energy consumption among these athletes was high 17.7 ± 0.9 MJ • day -1 in comparison to other elite team sport athletes. Furthermore intakes of protein, fat, saturated fatty acids mineral and most vitamins exceed the current Daily Recommended Intakes (DRI's) for these macronutrients whereas, intakes of carbohydrate and vitamin E failed to meet the guidelines. Daily fluid intake was 3126 ± 1226ml. Water was the preferred beverage (1688±1032 ml), followed by milk (445 ± 521 ml), commercial sport drinks (377 ± 520 ml), carbonated beverages (307 ± 492 ml), juices (150 ± 208 ml), beer (67 ± 189 ml), non-alcoholic (beer 49 ± 158 ml) and wine (43 ± 218 ml). Sixty-six percent of the participants reported to consume particular foods before competition and 10% stated to do this after competition. On average athletes consumed 646 ± 352 ml • h -1 and 882 ± 486 ml of liquids during training and competition session, respectively. Furthermore, 44 % of the participants recorded not to drink before getting thirsty and 3 athletes stated never to drink during training and 2 did so during competition. Results of the present study underline the need for professional advice from sport nutritionists for elite basketball players.

The aims of this study were to determine the type, frequency and amount of dietary supplement consumption among a group of professional basketball players. The type, amount and specific timing of supplement use were recorded by 55 professional basketball players from seven different teams of the First Spanish Basketball League. Most participants (58%) consumed dietary supplements. Multivitamins and vitamins were the most frequently used supplements among the athletes (50.9%), followed by sport drinks (21.8%), miscellaneous supplements (21.8%), amino acids (14.5%), proteins (12.7%) and carbohydrates (12.7%). The average daily dietary supplement was one capsule of multivitamins, one capsule of antioxidant vitamins, 0.2-1.0 g vitamin C, 10.3 g protein, 1.9 g amino acids, 16.2 g carbohydrates and 377 ml of a commercial sport drink. Although the proportion of participants who consumed dietary supplements before, during and immediately after exercise was 25.4%, 16.3% and 7.3% respectively, only a few consumed a potentially ergogenic supplement at these times. It would appear unlikely that the type or amount of dietary supplements consumed had a beneficial effect on the physical performance of these professional basketball players, with the possible exception of antioxidant vitamins and the commercial sport drinks.