Dietary assessments of Shanghai elite athletes using the Dietary Balance Index (DBI-16)

Abstract

Background: Professional athletes' dietary assessments lack tools which are easy and effective to operate. This study's objectives were to evaluate the diet of elite athletes in Shanghai and improve the evaluation process and scoring criteria for the Dietary Balance Index (DBI) used to evaluate athletes’ diet. Methods: A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to examine the food intake of 101 athletes over the course of a year. The effectiveness of the DBI-16 used to analyze the athletes' dietary structure was determined by the efficacy of their actual dietary issues. Results: The results demonstrate that the subjects' diet intake was typically insufficient. The diet quality distance (DQD) was “low imbalance”, high bound score（HBS）was “suitable” and the low bound score (LBS) was “low inadequate intake”. Red and products, poultry and game were overconsumed, whereas the subjects consumed insufficient amounts of vegetables, fruits, and soybeans. Gender differences were seen in both the HBS and DQD scores (p =0.034 and p =0.001, respectively). Male subjects were more likely than female subjects to score "at or near the recommended intake" and "above the appropriate range" for added sugars (p = 0.011). Egg and added sugar consumption differences by age were also found (p =0.01, p =0.003). Conclusions: The DBI evaluation standards as they currently exist may reflect some of the issues with the subjects' food patterns. However, the evaluation of cereals and foods with added sugar may not be comprehensive, therefore additional study is needed to complement and modify it appropriately.