ECSS Paris 2023: OP-PN07
INTRODUCTION: Recreational athletes rely on a variety of resources to inform nutritional, hydration, and training decisions. The rise of social media has enabled more equitable access to nutrition plans and training practices, but has also increased the spread of misinformation. Fitness content creators often base their content on personal life experiences rather than empirical evidence. Additionally, paid opportunities may bias what information is shared with followers. The purpose of this descriptive analysis is to classify resources used for nutrition and training among recreational female athletes training for a half-marathon. METHODS: One hundred and seven (n = 107) female runners (32.17 ± 8.59 years) competing in a community-based half-marathon completed questionnaires on nutrition, hydration, and training resources used during the four weeks leading up to race day. Resources were classified as professional (sports dietician/nutritionist, coach, eating disorder specialist, sports scientist, sports physician/medical doctor, naturopath/herbalist, chiropractor, education information provided by event, scientific publications, educational conferences) or non-professional (friends, audio programs, online media, television, and social media). Participants could select multiple sources. Data are presented as means ± SD or counts/total (%). RESULTS: Many participants reported “[they] did not use resources” for nutrition (48/161; 29.8%), hydration (62/150; 41.3%), and training (34/107; 18.8%). Among individuals who reported using resources, the mean was 2.00 ± 1.13 for nutrition resources, 1.87 ± 0.97 for hydration resources, and 2.01 ± 1.28 for training resources. Use of non-professional sources was more frequently cited in those who used at least one resource across domains (diet: 63/161 (55.7%); hydration: 61/88 (69.3%); training: 107/147 (72.8%)). Among only non-professional resources, social media was selected in 49.2% (31/63) of nutrition, 42.6% (26/61) of hydration, and 28.9% (31/107) of training responses. Regarding training information, 36.4% (39/107) relied on friends. CONCLUSION: Recreational female athletes frequently rely on non-professional sources, particularly social media, for information on training and nutrition. This study highlights the importance of providing accessible, evidence-based resources for athletes to safeguard athlete health.
Read CV Bailey McLaganECSS Paris 2023: OP-PN07
INTRODUCTION: Wheelchair users are at increased risk of low bone mineral density (BMD) due to chronically reduced mechanical loading on the skeletal system. Further, previous studies have found wheelchair athletes at risk for nutrient deficiencies related to bone health, such as clinically low S-vitamin D levels. This study aimed to describe dietary intake in sports and non-sports active wheelchair users and investigate the effects of 24-weeks nutrition optimization targeting bone health. METHODS: Adult wheelchair users with BMD Z-score ≤ 0.0 at lumbar spine or hip were randomized to resistance exercise or no exercise, with both groups receiving nutrition optimization in the form of counselling and supplementation of protein, vitamin D, and calcium. Measurements occurred at baseline, mid-, and post-intervention. BMD and body composition were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Fasted venous blood samples were collected to assess nutrient biomarkers. Dietary intake was recorded by three 24-hour dietary recalls collected within 2-weeks of each time point and assessed via the Norwegian Food Database. Differences between sports active (≥ 1-year organized sports; ≥3 training hours per week) and non-sports active participants were assessed by Fisher’s exact tests. Baseline nutrient intake and biomarker status were determined categorically according to Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2012 and sport-specific recommendations. A linear mixed-effects model was used to investigate the effects of the nutrition optimization protocol on intake of energy (EI), protein, and calcium, and S-vitamin D. RESULTS: Baseline included 45 participants (BMI 24±5kg/m2; 40% female; 49% sports active). Estimated EI was 204 kcal/day lower than calculated energy need, with no difference in prevalence of low EI between sports (50%) and non-sports (44%) active. Majority (73%) of sports active participants met recommended protein intake for athletes of >1.2 g/kg/day, but only 14% met carbohydrate intake for athletes of >5 g/kg/day. Recommended vitamin D intake was met by 71% of participants; however, 93% had S-vitamin D levels <80 nmol/L. From baseline to mid-intervention there was significant increase in S-vitamin D, and intake of protein and calcium. S-vitamin D and calcium intake remained significantly increased to post-intervention. Across all timepoints non-sports active had significantly lower EI (-467±132 kcal/day) and calcium intake (-306±116 mg/day). CONCLUSION: We found notable nutritional challenges in wheelchair users, including low EI and S-vitamin D, despite meeting vitamin D intake recommendations. Protein but not carbohydrate recommendations were met by sports active participants. 24-week nutrition optimization targeting bone health led to increased S-vitamin D levels and protein and calcium intake, emphasizing the value of targeted dietary support for sports and non-sports active wheelchair users.
Read CV Sarah CravenECSS Paris 2023: OP-PN07
INTRODUCTION: Following concerns about excessive caffeine intake among minors, Poland introduced a nationwide ban on energy drink sales to individuals <18 years of age. However, the real-world impact of this policy on caffeine consumption, particularly among physically active adolescents, remains unclear, including its potential influence on the use of caffeine-containing dietary supplements. Physically active children and adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to high energy drink consumption, partly due to evidence suggesting performance-enhancing effects of caffeine in aerobic exercise. However, international guidelines advise against energy drink consumption in young athletes, recommending complete avoidance in children and restricted use under parental supervision in adolescents. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate changes in self-reported caffeine intake from energy drinks among physically active adolescents before and after the implementation of the sales ban, and to complement these findings with anonymous anti-doping control records documenting recent use of caffeine-containing supplements in athlete minors. METHODS: Two studies using a similar methodology were conducted: first in 2022, before the ban, (n=1530, aged 10-14 years, participants of in extracurricular, organised sports activities) and the second in 2025, after the introduction of the ban (n=1083, aged 11-15, adolescents from Handball Training Centres). Estimated daily caffeine intake from EDs (mg/day) was derived by multiplying the converted mean daily consumption frequency (e.g., “less than once a month” = 0.02, “once daily or more” = 1.5) by the reported portion size, assuming an average caffeine content of 32 mg per 100 ml of the beverage. In parallel, the frequency of caffeine-containing supplement use was compared among individuals 14-17 years of age based on questionnaires completed during doping controls in 2022-2023 and 2024-2025. RESULTS: The percentage of energy drink consumers significantly decreased from 46.4% to 19.1% (p < 0.001). The average daily caffeine intake from energy drinks decreased from 20.8±81.2 mg/day in 2022 up to 17.2±43.3 mg/day (p = 0.023) among consumers. With regard to data from doping surveys, no statistically significant changes were observed before and after the introduction of the ban (15.5% vs 15.7%, p=0.940). To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the effectiveness of the ban in reducing caffeine consumption. CONCLUSION: While the sales ban successfully reduced both the prevalence of consumption and average daily caffeine intake among physically active adolescents, the absence of a corresponding decrease in caffeine-containing dietary supplement use among young athletes suggests that regulatory measures alone are insufficient. However, this difference may also be attributable to age disparities between samples, with the adolescent group being younger than the athlete cohort.
Read CV Dominika GrandaECSS Paris 2023: OP-PN07