Table 2.
Dietary intake among elite-level artistic gymnasts and swimmers gymnasts and swimmers compared with recommendations [40–45].
| Variable (/day) | Recommendations | Gymnasts | Swimmers | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G vs. recommendations/S vs. Recommendations | ||||
| Energy availability (kcal/kg FFM)EA | 45 | 23 ± 3 | 33 ± 10 | <0.001/<0.05 |
| Macronutrients | ||||
| Carbohydrates (g/kg BM) | 8–12 | 3.3 ± 0.8 | 5.1 ± 1.6 | <0.001/<0.001 |
| Free sugars (% E)FS | <5 | 17 ± 5 | 17 ± 7 | 0.001/0.001 |
| Dietary fibre (g) | ≥30 | 11 ± 2 | 17 ± 3 | 0.001/0.001 |
| Total fat (% E) | 30–40 | 40 ± 13 | 38 ± 13 | 0.159/0.286 |
| SFA (% E) | ≤10 | 18 ± 7 | 17 ± 7 | <0.001/<0.002 |
| MUFA (% E) | ≥10 | 14 ± 4 | 13 ± 3 | 0.001/0.005 |
| PUFA (% E) | 7–10 | 4 ± 1.0 | 4 ± 1.0 | <0.001/<0.001 |
| Cholesterol (mg) | <300 | 148 ± 63 | 190 ± 90 | <0.001/<0.001 |
| Protein (g/kg BM) | 1.2 | 1.0 ± 0.2 | 1.2 ± 0.2 | 0.002/0.583 |
| Micronutrients | ||||
| Vitamins | ||||
| B6 (mg) | 1.4 | 0.8 ± 0.3 | 1.8 ± 0.2 | <0.001/0.463 |
| B12 (μg) | 4 | 4.7 ± 2.9 | 10.5 ± 4.0 | 0.737/<0.001 |
| C (mg) | 90 | 30 ± 17 | 107 ± 69 | <0.001/0.615 |
| D (μg) | 20 | 5.5 ± 9.6 | 3.5 ± 3.5 | <0.001/0.001 |
| E (mg) | 12 | 6.3 ± 2.4 | 15.7 ± 11.6 | <0.001/0.583 |
| Minerals | ||||
| Calcium (mg) | 1200 | 629 ± 274 | 806 ± 228 | <0.001/<0.001 |
| Magnesium (mg) | 350 | 292 ± 80 | 333 ± 79 | 0.013/0.286 |
| Phosphorus (mg) | 1250 | 924 ± 192 | 1236 ± 188 | <0.001/0.463 |
| Potassium (mg) | 4000 | 1731 ± 475 | 2561 ± 373 | <0.001/<0.001 |
| Sodium (mg) | 1500 | 901 ± 347 | 1576 ± 427 | <0.001/0.761 |
| Trace elements | ||||
| Iron (mg) | 15 | 9 ± 4 | 14 ± 7 | <0.001/0.263 |
| Zinc (mg) | 7 | 7 ± 2 | 9 ± 6 | 0.813/0.104 |
| Selenium (mg) | 60 | 30 ± 11 | 46 ± 16 | <0.001/0.007 |
Data are presented as the mean (standard deviation). One-sample Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied for comparison against recommendations. G vs. recommendations average values for gymnasts compared with recommendations; S vs. recommendations average values for swimmers compared with recommendations. Statistically significant p values are presented in bold. EAEnergy availability (EA) was calculated from energy intake (EI), exercise energy expenditure (EEE), and FFM. Exercise energy expenditure were reported by coaches from past measurements (i.e., using heart rate monitoring) during similar competition circumstances and only for few of Slovenia's best gymnasts (average: 514 ± 72 kcal) and swimmers (average: 723 ± 40 kcal). FSFree sugars: all monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods and beverages by the manufacturer, cook, or consumer (e.g., added sugars) plus that naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices, and fruit juice concentrates (defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) [43], adapted by SACN [44] and ESPGHAN [45]). SFA saturated fatty acids, MUFA monounsaturated fatty acids, PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acids. Atwater energy conversion factors were used (kcal/g): carbohydrates and protein 4, dietary fibre 2, fat 9 [60].