Author(s): KOMORI, Y., NAKAGI, N., KAWASHIMA, N., Institution: KYOTO KOKA WOMEN'S UNIVERSITY, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 957

INTRODUCTION:
The International Olympic Committee introduced the concept of relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S), a clinical syndrome resulting from low energy availability (EA). Insufficient energy intake can lead to impairment in growth and development, metabolism, mental health, cardiovascular health, and bone health, ultimately reducing athletic performance.
In Japan, collegiate baseball competitions are held from April through October. Because a substantial portion of the competitive season occurs under pronounced heat stress, maintaining athletes’ conditioning becomes particularly challenging. Effective management of thermoregulatory strain, hydration and electrolyte balance, and adequate energy and nutrient intake is essential to mitigate heat related risks and preserve athletes’ health and performance capacity.
This study evaluates nutritional intake, training volume, and the prevalence of low EA (<30 kcal/kg FFM/day) in collegiate baseball player to contribute to conditioning strategies under hot environmental conditions during the competitive season.


METHODS:
Twenty-two male collegiate baseball players belonging to DivisionⅡof the Keiji University League in Japan participated in this study. The measurements encompassed nutritional intake, eating behavior, training volume and body composition, and were conducted on two occasions: in August during the competitive season (CS) and in November during the off season (OS).
Nutritional intake was assessed using the brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire, and daily energy intake (EI) was calculated. Exercise energy expenditure (EEE) was determined from a 7-day training record. Participants were evaluated using three EA criteria: low (>30 kcal/kg FFM), sub optimal (30–45 kcal/kg FFM), and optimal EA (<45 kcal/kg FFM), according to the established definition of EA.



RESULTS:
During CS, body fat percentage was lower (p < 0.001) and LBM was higher (p < 0.001), while mean body weight showed no change in the comparison between CS and OS. Although EI showed no difference between CS and OS, both values were lower than the Japanese Dietary Reference Intakes in each season. The mean EA during OS and CS was 21.9 ± 12.7 and 23.9 ± 14.9 kcal/kg FFM, and no difference was observed between the two seasons. The prevalence of low EA during OS and CS was 81% and 75%, respectively. Twelve players experienced health problems under hot environmental conditions during the competitive season, and ten of them belonged to the low EA group. Nineteen players also reported symptoms including loss of appetite, gastrointestinal discomfort from consuming cold beverages, and persistent fatigue.
CONCLUSION:
These findings indicate that 81% of the players had low EA and low energy intake during CS.
Furthermore, characteristic eating behaviors associated with hot environmental conditions were also observed, highlighting the need to address multiple nutritional management challenges to support effective conditioning during the competitive season.