Research Article

Nutritional Status and Cardiovascular Health in Female Adolescent Elite-Level Artistic Gymnasts and Swimmers: A Cross-Sectional Study of 31 Athletes

Table 2

Dietary intake among elite-level artistic gymnasts and swimmers gymnasts and swimmers compared with recommendations [4045].

Variable (/day)RecommendationsGymnastsSwimmers value

G vs. recommendations/S vs. Recommendations
Energy availability (kcal/kg FFM)EA4523 ± 333 ± 10<0.001/<0.05
Macronutrients
 Carbohydrates (g/kg BM)8–123.3 ± 0.85.1 ± 1.6<0.001/<0.001
 Free sugars (% E)FS<517 ± 517 ± 70.001/0.001
 Dietary fibre (g)≥3011 ± 217 ± 30.001/0.001
 Total fat (% E)30–4040 ± 1338 ± 130.159/0.286
 SFA (% E)≤1018 ± 717 ± 7<0.001/<0.002
 MUFA (% E)≥1014 ± 413 ± 30.001/0.005
 PUFA (% E)7–104 ± 1.04 ± 1.0<0.001/<0.001
 Cholesterol (mg)<300148 ± 63190 ± 90<0.001/<0.001
 Protein (g/kg BM)1.21.0 ± 0.21.2 ± 0.20.002/0.583
Micronutrients
Vitamins
 B6 (mg)1.40.8 ± 0.31.8 ± 0.2<0.001/0.463
 B12 (μg)44.7 ± 2.910.5 ± 4.00.737/<0.001
 C (mg)9030 ± 17107 ± 69<0.001/0.615
D (μg)205.5 ± 9.63.5 ± 3.5<0.001/0.001
E (mg)126.3 ± 2.415.7 ± 11.6<0.001/0.583
Minerals
 Calcium (mg)1200629 ± 274806 ± 228<0.001/<0.001
 Magnesium (mg)350292 ± 80333 ± 790.013/0.286
 Phosphorus (mg)1250924 ± 1921236 ± 188<0.001/0.463
 Potassium (mg)40001731 ± 4752561 ± 373<0.001/<0.001
 Sodium (mg)1500901 ± 3471576 ± 427<0.001/0.761
Trace elements
 Iron (mg)159 ± 414 ± 7<0.001/0.263
 Zinc (mg)77 ± 29 ± 60.813/0.104
 Selenium (mg)6030 ± 1146 ± 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].