Title:

Dietary Adequacy of College Athletes and Relationship with VO2 max

Objectives: To examine if college athletes are meeting dietary recommendations of carbohydrate (CHO) and protein (PRO) and to see if intake of CHO and PRO is related to aerobic fitness. Methods: Data were collected from student athletes (n=264) between 2015-18 through the College Health and Nutrition Assessment Survey (n=9651), an on-going, cross-sectional survey conducted at a midsized, northeastern university. CHO & PRO intake was determined from 3-day food records and nutrient analysis software (Diet & Wellness+). VO2 max, a measure of aerobic fitness, was estimated via 1-mile walk field test and calculated via a validated equation. Participants were categorized into three groups according to intake of CHO & PRO; group difference in VO2 max were compared using ANCOVA with gender, BMI, and adjusted energy intake serving as covariates. Regression analysis was used to identify significant predictors of VO2 max. Data are presented as frequencies. Results: Findings indicate 15.5% of male and 39.3% of female athletes failed to meet minimum requirements for CHO and PRO, respectively. Conversely, 20.0% of male and 22.0% of female athletes met or exceeded requirements for both CHO and PRO. There were no statistical differences in VO2 max between CHO and PRO intake groups (p=.517). Regression analysis indicated that protein intake was a significant contributor to VO2 max (β=.112, p=.032). Conclusions: Our data are consistent with others and find many college athletes are not consuming a nutritionally adequate diet. Our cross-sectional findings show that PRO intake may influence aerobic fitness level, however, future prospective research is needed to better understand the impact of dietary choices on athletic performance. Funding Sources: New Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch Project 1010738.

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