A Study of Dietary Habits, Nutrition Intake Status and Serum Copper and Zinc Concentrations of Adolescent Athletes

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the dietary habits, nutritional status, and serum copper and zinc concentrations of adolescent athletes. 50 high school adolescent athletes (29 male, 21 female) took part in physical education high school and 47 high school adolescent non-athletes (21 male, 26 female) in general high school. Questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, 24-hour dietary recalls and blood analysis were conducted. In the males, the mean height, weight and body fat percents of athletes and non-athletes were 174.0/172.9 cm, 67.4/68.3 kg, and 8.9/20.0% (p < 0.001) respectively. In the females, the mean height, weight and body fat percents of athletes and non-athletes were 163.7/159.3 cm (p < 0.01), 58.7/55.7 kg (p < 0.05), and 18.6/30.1% (p < 0.001) respectively. In both male and female athletes, intakes of animal fat were significantly higher and intakes of vitamin C were significantly lower than those of non-athletes. There was no significantly difference in zinc and copper intakes between athlete and non-athlete groups. The average serum zinc level of male athletes was significantly lower than that of male non-athlete. The average serum copper levels of male and female athletes were significantly lower than those of male and female non-athletes. Based on these results, exercise may effect on zinc and copper utilization of adolescent. Further studies on zinc and copper nutrition of adolescent athletes were needed to understand more mineral nutrition and exercise.