Analysis of Dietary Intake and Body Composition of Collegiate Runners / Análisis de la Ingesta Dietética y Composición Corporal de Corredores Universitarios

SUMMARY: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare dietary intake to published recommendations and to analyze the potential relationship between body composition and dietary intake in collegiate athletes. Eighteen healthy male middle- and long- distance runners (age 20.11 ± 2.72 y; height, 174.7 ± 6.1 cm; body mass, 64.0 ± 7.7 kg), were recruited from a Mexican university track and field team at the beginning of the general preparation phase for national competitions. Participants completed three 24-hour dietary recalls, which were used to estimate dietary intake. Body composition was measured by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Athletes displayed high body fat values. Protein intake was significantly higher than published recommendations. Iron, zinc, sodium, and vitamin C intake were significantly higher than recommended values, while potassium and calcium intake were below established recommendations. No significant correlations between body composition variables (i.e body fat, lean body mass, bone mineral content) and dietary intake (i.e energy, macronutrients and selected vitamins and minerals) could be found. These findings suggest that coaches and practitioners should pay close attention to dietary intake and body composition of endurance athletes starting general preparation for competition. Future studies on changes of dietary intake and body composition during off-season and competitive phase, which also track physical activity, are warranted.

El objetivo de este estudio transversal fue comparar la ingesta dietética con las recomendaciones publicadas y analizar la relación potencial entre la composición corporal y la ingesta dietética en corredores universitarios. Dieciocho atletas masculinos sanos de media y larga distancia (edad 20,11 ± 2,72 años; altura, 174,7 ± 6,1 cm; masa corporal, 64,0 ± 7,7 kg), fueron reclutados de un equipo de atletismo de una universidad mexicana al comienzo de la fase de preparación general de competiciones nacionales. Los participantes completaron tres recordatorios dietéticos de 24 horas, que se utilizaron para estimar la ingesta dietética. La composición corporal se midió mediante absorciometría de rayos X de energía dual (DXA). Los atletas mostraron altos valores de grasa corporal. La ingesta de proteínas fue significativamente mayor que las recomendaciones publicadas. La ingesta de hierro, zinc, sodio y vitamina C fue significativamente superior a los valores recomendados, mientras que la ingesta de potasio y calcio estuvo por debajo de las recomendaciones establecidas. No se encontraron correlaciones significativas entre las variables de composición corporal (es decir, grasa corporal, masa corporal magra, contenido mineral óseo) y la ingesta dietética (es decir, energía, macronutrientes y vitaminas y minerales seleccionados). Estos hallazgos sugieren que los entrenadores y los practicantes deberían prestar mucha atención a la ingesta dietética y la composición corporal de los atletas de resistencia que comienzan la preparación general para la competencia. Se justifican estudios futuros sobre los cambios en la ingesta dietética y la composición corporal durante la fase fuera de temporada y competitiva, como también un seguimiento de la actividad física.

Effects of aerobic gymnastics on heart rate variability and physical performance in male college students / Efeitos da ginástica aeróbica sobre a variação do ritmo cardíaco e do desempenho físico dos estudantes universitários masculinos / Efectos de la gimnasia aeróbica sobre la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca y el rendimiento físico de estudiantes universitarios masculinos

ABSTRACT Introduction: There are many forms of physical exercise, and the traditional simple exercise can no longer meet people's increasing needs. With the rapid development of the economy, people's living standards have improved progressively. Exercise and fitness have become one of ways for people to relax and improve their quality of life. Objective: Analyze the effects of aerobic gymnastics on male college students' heart rate variability and physical performance. Methods: 10 male college students volunteered for a 6-week aerobic gym-based protocol. This paper discusses the influence of aerobic exercise on heart rate variability and physical fitness of 10 male college students through aerobic interventions for 6 weeks. Results: The HRV indexes SDNN, RMSSD, TP, HF, and LF/HF significantly differed before and after training. Conclusion: There are significant differences in the physical performance of volunteers such as grip strength, flexion of sitting posture, and sitting posture itself before and after the intervention. It is suggested that aerobic training can improve people's cardiac function and physical fitness. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: Existem muitas formas de exercício físico, e a forma tradicional de exercício simples já não pode satisfazer as necessidades crescentes das pessoas. Com o rápido desenvolvimento da economia, o nível de vida das pessoas tem melhorado progressivamente. O exercício físico e a condicionamento físico tornaram-se uma das formas de as pessoas relaxarem e melhorarem a sua qualidade de vida. Objetivo: Analisar os efeitos da ginástica aeróbica sobre a variação do ritmo cardíaco e desempenho físico dos estudantes universitários masculinos. Métodos: 10 estudantes universitários masculinos foram voluntários de um protocolo baseado em ginástica aeróbica com duração de 6 semanas. Este artigo discute a influência do exercício aeróbico na variabilidade do ritmo cardíaco e na aptidão física de 10 estudantes universitários masculinos através de intervenções aeróbicas por 6 semanas. Resultados: Os índices HRV SDNN, RMSSD, TP, HF e LF/HF foram significativamente diferentes antes e depois do treino. Conclusão: Existem diferenças significativas do desempenho físico dos voluntários como força de preensão, flexão da postura sentada e da própria postura sentada antes e depois da intervenção. Sugere-se que o treino aeróbico pode melhorar a função cardíaca e a condição física das pessoas. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: Hay muchas formas de ejercicio físico, y la forma tradicional de ejercicio simple ya no puede satisfacer las necesidades crecientes de la gente. Con el rápido desarrollo de la economía, el nivel de vida de la población ha mejorado progresivamente. El ejercicio físico y el acondicionamiento físico se han convertido en una de las formas de relajarse y mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas. Objetivo: Analizar los efectos de la gimnasia aeróbica sobre la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca y el rendimiento físico de estudiantes universitarios de sexo masculino. Métodos: 10 estudiantes universitarios se ofrecieron como voluntarios para un protocolo de 6 semanas de gimnasia aeróbica. Este artículo analiza la influencia del ejercicio aeróbico en la variabilidad de la frecuencia cardíaca y la aptitud física de 10 estudiantes universitarios masculinos mediante intervenciones aeróbicas durante 6 semanas. Resultados: Los índices de HRV SDNN, RMSSD, TP, HF y LF/HF fueron significativamente diferentes antes y después del entrenamiento. Conclusión: Existen diferencias significativas en el rendimiento físico de los voluntarios como la fuerza de agarre, la flexión de la postura sentada y la propia postura sentada antes y después de la intervención. Se sugiere que el entrenamiento aeróbico puede mejorar la función cardíaca y la aptitud física de las personas. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Do varsity college athletes have a greater likelihood of risky alcohol and cannabis use than non-athletes? Results from a National Survey in Brazil

Objective: We examined the prevalence of risky alcohol and cannabis use among Brazilian varsity college athletes and whether this group had a greater likelihood of risky use than non-athletes. Methods: In 2009, Brazilian college students (n=12,711) were recruited for a national stratified random survey. Their sociodemographic characteristics, mental health, substance use, and participation in varsity sports were assessed. Binary logistic regression models were used to examine the association between varsity athlete status and moderate to high-risk alcohol and cannabis use. Results: Among varsity athletes, 67.6 and 10.7% reported risky alcohol and cannabis use, respectively. Varsity athletes had greater odds of risky alcohol consumption than non-athletes (aOR = 2.02, 95%CI 1.08-3.78). Varsity athletes also had greater odds of risky cannabis use than non-athletes in unadjusted analyses (OR = 2.57, 95%CI 1.05-6.28), although this relationship was attenuated after covariate adjustment. Conclusions: Among college students in Brazil, varsity athletes had a higher prevalence of risky alcohol and cannabis use than non-athletes. The rates were considerably higher than those observed among samples of U.S. college athletes. Future research should examine the use of these substances among varsity college athletes in other middle-income countries since these findings will likely guide prevention and treatment efforts.

Polimorfismo genético ACTN3 R577X en deportistas universitarios chilenos / ACTN3 R577X gene polymorphism in Chilean college athletes

Uno de los principales factores genéticos que influenciarían el rendimiento muscular humano es el gen ACTN3, que codifica la proteína estructural del sarcómero α-actinina-3. El polimorfismo R577X (rs1815739) del gen ACTN3 ha sido asociado con varios indicadores de rendimiento muscular y físico en deportistas y población general, pero este fenómeno ha sido escasamente descrito en poblaciones de Latinoamérica y Chile. Por lo tanto, el objetivo del presente estudio fue describir la frecuencia genotípica y distribución alélica de los genotipos de ACTN3 R577X en deportistas universitarios chilenos. 129 deportistas universitarios chilenos representantes de diferentes selecciones deportivas (halterofilia, balonmano, voleibol, rugby, basquetbol, futbol y futsal) participaron como voluntarios. Los análisis moleculares del polimorfismo R577X del gen ACTN3 fueron realizados mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) y restricción enzimática (RFLP). La distribución de genotipos del polimorfismo ACTN3 R577X fue RR: 34,8 % (n=45), RX: 50,4 % (n=65), XX: 14,7 % (n=19), y la frecuencia relativa de alelos fue R: 0,601 y X: 0,399. Además, se encontró asociación entre distribución de genotipos (c2= 12,26; 2 gl; p=0,002) y frecuencia relativa de alelos (c2= 11.02; 1 gl; p=0.0009) con el sexo de los participantes. Sin embargo, no hubo asociación al realizar análisis por tipo de deporte practicado. Los hallazgos de la presente investigación sugieren que el polimorfismo R577X del gen ACTN3 está asociado con el sexo en deportistas universitarios chilenos. Además, estos resultados describen de forma inédita la distribución genotípica y frecuencia alélica de esta variante genética en población chilena, mostrando una distribución similar a otros estudios realizados en poblaciones de deportistas en Brasil, Rusia, Estados Unidos y Turquía. No obstante, también muestra diferencias con otras poblaciones generales y de deportistas.

One of the main genetic factors that influence the muscular performance is the gene that encodes the structural protein α-actinin-3 (ACTN3). The R577X polymorphism (rs1815739) of ACTN3 has been associated with indicators of muscle and physical performance in athletes and general population, but this has been scarcely described in the Latin American and Chilean population. Thus, the aim of the present study was to describe the genotypic frequency and allelic distribution of ACTN3 R577X genotypes in college athletes. A total of 129 unrelated Chilean college athletes representing various sport disciplines (weightlifting, handball, volleyball, rugby, basketball, soccer and futsal) were volunteered for the study. ACTN3 R577X gene polymorphism was analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). For the total sample the genotypes distribution for R577X polymorphism was RR: 34.8 % (n=45), RX: 50.4 % (n=65), XX: 14.7 % (n=19), and the relative frequency of alleles was R: 0,601 and X: 0,399. Moreover, an association was found between genotype distribution (c2= 12.26; 2 df; p=0.002) and allele frequencies (c2= 11.02; 1 df; p=0.0009) with the sex of the participants. However, there were no associations when performing analysis by type of sports. These findings suggest that the R577X polymorphism of the ACTN3 gene is associated with sex in Chilean college athletes. Furthermore, these results describe in an unprecedented manner, the genotypic distribution and allelic frequency of this genetic variant in Chilean population, showing a similar distribution to other studies conducted in populations of athletes in Brazil, Russia, the United States and Turkey. However, it also shows differences with other general and athletes populations.