An evaluation of dietary intakes of triathletes: Are RDAs being met?

During an endurance run (1,000 km in 20 days) it was investigated whether an ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet (OLVD) could cover the nutritional requirements of endurance athletes. A regular western diet (RWD) was used as reference. Both diets were offered with an energy content of 4,500 kcal per day and an energy percentage of carbohydrate:fat:protein of 60:30:10. The runners were divided into two dietary groups according to their usual dietary habits. The results of the 55 participants who completed the race show that runners from both groups had the same intake of energy, carbohydrate, fat and protein. Runners of the OLVD group consumed more dietary fiber and polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as less cholesterol. With the exception of sodium chloride and cobalamin, the intake of the calculated minerals and vitamins was higher in the OLVD and exceeded the official recommendations. This study shows that an OLVD with a high nutrient density is adequate to cover the nutritional requirements of endurance-athletes. The intake and absorption of iron should be monitored closely in all diet groups.

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Intake of carbohydrate and its components--international comparisons, trends over time, and effects of changing to low-fat diets

Stephen

Sieber

Gerster

et al. 1995

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

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Carbohydrate constitutes the major source of dietary energy for all peoples of the world. However, it has been difficult to make accurate determinations of intakes of carbohydrate and its constituents because of lack of individual assessments in which carbohydrate components are included. For many countries, only food balance information is available and values for total carbohydrate are often derived by difference. Available information indicates that carbohydrate consumption decreased in many industrialized nations as prosperity led to an increased consumption of fat. Fat intakes have fallen over the past two decades and carbohydrate intakes have increased, but still do not approach the 60-70%contribution of carbohydrate to total energy in developing countries. A negative image for carbohydrate has led to a reluctance to accept it as a legitimate dietary component, particularly in North America. New evidence of the beneficial effects of starch in the diet indicates that increased consumption of carbohydrate, especially in the form of starch, should be promoted in Western countries.

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An evaluation of dietary intakes of triathletes: Are RDAs being met?

Cited by 7 publications

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Medical Surveillance of Endurance Sport

Medical Surveillance of Endurance Sport

Nutrient intake of endurance runners with ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet and regular western diet

Intake of carbohydrate and its components--international comparisons, trends over time, and effects of changing to low-fat diets

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