Nutritional Status and Adequacy of Dietary Intake of an Elite 1000m Flat Water Kayak Paddler

Abstract

Background: Sports performance, besides the mental and emotional features of the athlete, is the outcome from the correct combination of training load, rest/ recovery and nutrition. Nutritional deficits or excesses can be deleterious for sports performance, particularly in sports that rely on high power output as 1000m kayak paddler. Objective: To describe the nutritional intake habits of a highly performing kayaker, and its adequacy for training, as only few studies have focused on this type of sports. Methods: An elite male kayaker specialized in 1000m flat-water races, World Champion, European Champion and Silver medallist in the London Olympic Games (35 years) reported his food intake for 7 consecutive days during a specific preparation period. Results: Daily average energy intake was 3174 ± 306 kcal; the intake of carbohydrates was 47.8 ± 9.3% (4.4 ± 1.2 g.kg-1. body weight. day-1), protein 20.8 ± 4.3% (1.9 ± 0.3 g.kg-1body weight. day) and fat intake was 31.4 ± 5.2% (1.3 ± 0.2 g. kg-1 body weight day. d-1). Fiber average consumption was 23.6 ± 9.2 g/day and cholesterol 638 ± 218 g/day. While water-soluble vitamins were within the recommended levels, fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene were below athletes’ recommendations. All macro minerals intake was within the Dietary References Intake (DRI) for general population values as well as the trace elements with exception of iodine and molybdenum. Also, an unbalanced ratio between omega-6/omega-3 fatty acids was observed. Conclusion: This kayaker had a caloric intake adequate to the training requirement of the analyzed week. However, a reduction in fat intake and an increment in carbohydrate should be promoted in order to achieve dietary recommendations for athletes. The low intake of fat-soluble vitamins and beta-carotene found may justify the use supplementation. Keywords: kayaking, nutrition, macronutrients, vitamins, minerals